2021 Lincoln Shield Cent
| Weight | 2.5 grams |
| Diameter | 19.05 mm |
| Mint | Philadelphia |
| Mintage | 3,762,400,000 |
| Edge | Plain |
| Alignment | ↑↓ Coin |
| Composition | Copper-plated Zinc (97.5% Zinc, 2.5% Copper) |
| Designer | Victor D. Brenner |
| Collector's Key ID | CK-856 |
The 2021 Lincoln Shield cent from the Philadelphia Mint had a mintage of approximately 3.76 billion pieces. Production remained at elevated levels as the U.S. Mint continued to address the coin circulation shortage that began during the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020. The Federal Reserve's U.S. Coin Task Force coordinated efforts among the Mint, banks, retailers, and the public to restore normal coin flow.
The 2021 cent marked the twelfth year of the Shield reverse design, firmly established as the permanent successor to the Lincoln Memorial reverse. Victor David Brenner's obverse portrait had been in use for 112 years, an extraordinary run that shows no sign of ending. The cent's production costs continued to exceed its face value, a topic that periodically surfaced in policy discussions but generated no legislative action.
| Grade | Description | Typical Price |
|---|---|---|
| G-4 | Good (G) | $0.01 |
| VG-8 | Very Good (VG) | $0.01 |
| F-12 | Fine (F) | $0.01 |
| VF-20 | Very Fine (VF) | $0.01 |
| EF-40 | Extremely Fine (EF) | $0.01 |
| AU-50 | About Uncirculated (AU) | $0.01 |
| MS-60 | Uncirculated (MS) | — |
| MS-63 | Choice Uncirculated (MS) | — |
This table is for educational purposes only and is intended to illustrate general market price trends and pricing steps between grades. Actual market conditions may vary significantly, especially for rarer pieces that often command premiums above the ranges shown here.
No major varieties are known for this issue.
View all Lincoln Shield Cents varieties →- PCGS CoinFacts: Lincoln Shield Cents
- NGC Coin Explorer: Lincoln Shield Cents
- Heritage Auctions Archives
- Stack's Bowers Auction Archives
- A Guide Book of United States Coins (The Red Book)