Types

• Lincoln Wheat Cents (1909–1958)
  95% copper, 5% tin/zinc
• Lincoln Memorial Cents (1959–2008)
  1959–1982: ~95% copper, 5% tin/zinc (3.11 g)
  Mid-1982–2008: Copper-plated zinc (2.5 g).
• Lincoln Shield Cents (2010–Present)
  Copper-plated zinc (2.5 g)

Key Years

• 1909-S VDB Mintage ~484,000; top key date.
• 1909-S (no VDB) Mintage ~1.8 million.
• 1914-D Mintage ~1.19 million.
• 1922 “No D” A strong die-wear/mintmark error from Denver.
• 1931-S Mintage ~866,000.
• 1943 Steel Cents Wartime zinc-coated steel
• 1960 Small Date vs. Large Date (Philadelphia & Denver).
• 1970-S Small Date vs. Large Date Small Date is tougher in high grade.
• 1972 DDO Strong doubling on “LIBERTY,” “IN GOD WE TRUST,” date.
• 1982 Transition 7 distinct varieties (Large Date Copper, Large Date Zinc, Small Date Copper, Small Date Zinc, etc.).
• 1983 DDR Doubling on reverse legends.
• 1984 DDO (“Double Ear”) Extra earlobe under Lincoln’s ear.
• 1992 & 1992-D “Close AM” Very little space between the A and M in “AMERICA.”
• 1998, 1999, 2000 “Wide AM” Reverse of proof dies used on business strikes.

Notable Varieties & Errors

• 1955 Doubled Die Obverse (DDO) Very bold doubling on the date and lettering.
• 1917 DDO, 1936 DDO, 1972 DDO, 1983 DDO, 1995 DDO, 2014 DDO, 2015 DDO.
• Pre-1982 copper cents (3.11 g) are often saved for copper value.
• 2023 Shield, Extra V - PCGS Coinfacts Link

Types

• Buffalo Nickels (1913–1938)
  75% copper, 25% nickel
• Jefferson Nickels (1938–Present)
  1938–1942 (Pre-War) – Standard composition (75% copper, 25% nickel)
  1942–1945 (War Nickels) – 35% silver, large mintmark over Monticello
  1946–2003 – Return to copper-nickel
• Lincoln Shield Cents (2010–Present)
  Copper-plated zinc (2.5 g)

Key Years

• 1913-S Type 2 Scarcer subtype.
• 1916/16 DDO Extremely rare overdate/doubling.
• 1918/7-D Famous overdate.
• 1921-S Lower mintage, tough in higher grades.
• 1937-D 3-Legged Major variety caused by over-polishing the die.
• 1938-D,1938-D, 1938-S, 1939-D, 1939-S Early, lower mintages.
• 1942–1945 War Nickels 35% silver (P, D, S).
• 1950-D Key date (~2.6 million minted).
• 2009 (P & D) Lower mintage, often hoarded.

Notable Varieties & Errors

• 1939 Doubled Die Reverse (“Reverse of 1938”).
• 1943-P & 1945-P Doubled Dies.
• 1942-D Over Horizontal D (rare variety).
• 2005-D “Speared Bison” – Die gouge through the bison’s back.

Types

• Mercury Dimes (1916–1945)
  90% silver, 10% copper
• Roosevelt Dimes (1946–Present)
  1946–1964 – 90% silver
  1965–Present – Copper-nickel clad

Key Years

• 1916-D Only ~264,000 minted, top key for Mercury.
• 1921 (Philadelphia) Mintage ~1.23 million.
• 1921-D Mintage ~1.08 million.
• 1950, 1951-S, 1952-S, 1955 tough to find in high grade.

Notable Varieties & Errors

• Overdates: 1942/1 and 1942/1-D are famously rare.
• 1949-S, 1950, 1951-S, 1952-S, 1955 can be slightly tougher (especially in high grade).
• 1982 “No P” Philadelphia coins missing the “P” mintmark.

Types

• Standing Liberty (1916–1930)
  90% silver
• Washington Quarters
  1932–1964: 90% silver
  1965–1998: Copper-nickel clad
  1999–2008: 50 State Quarters
  2010–2021: America the Beautiful
  2022–2025: American Women Quarters

Key Years

• 1916 ~52,000 minted, extremely scarce.
• 1918/7-S Famous overdate.
• 1932-D & 1932-S Key dates for early Washington quarters.
• 2019–2020 “W” Quarters Minted at West Point with limited distribution.

Notable Varieties & Errors

• 1999 Delaware “Spitting Horse” (die crack).
• 2004-D/P Wisconsin “Extra Leaf” (High Leaf / Low Leaf).
• 2005 Kansas “IN GOD WE RUST” & “Humpback Buffalo.”
• 2005-P Minnesota “Extra Tree.”
• 2006 Colorado die cud.

Types

• Walking Liberty (1916–1947)
  90% silver
• Franklin (1948–1963)
  90% silver
• Kennedy (1964–Present)
  1964: 90% silver
  1965–1970: 40% silver
  1971–Present: Copper-nickel clad (except special silver proofs)

Key Years

• 1916-S Low mintage.
• 1921 (Philadelphia) ~246,000 minted, big key.
• 1938-D Lower mintage (491,600).
• 1970-D Low mintage (mint sets only).

Notable Varieties & Errors

• 1974-D Doubled Die Obverse – Strong doubling on “TRUST.”
• 1966 “SMS Doubled Die” and other lesser-known DDO/DDR.
• No-FG (missing designer initials) on certain 1982, 1983, 1988 halves.

Types

• Morgan (1878–1921) & Peace (1921–1935)
  90% silver
• Eisenhower “Ike” (1971–1978)
  Copper-nickel clad for circulation; some 40% silver collector strikes
• Susan B. Anthony (1979–1981, 1999)
  Copper-nickel clad; smaller size
• Sacagawea / Native American (2000–Present)
  Manganese-brass clad
• Presidential Dollars (2007–2016)
  Manganese-brass clad

Key Years

• 1878 8 Tail Feather Early transitional variety
• 1879-CC, 1889-CC, 1892-CC, 1893-S, 1894, 1895-O/S Rarest regular-issue Morgan
• 1921 “High Relief”, 1924-S, 1928, 1934-S Peace Dollar key and semi-key dates
• 1979 Wide Rim Susan B. Anthony
• 2000 “Cheerios” Dollar Enhanced tail feather detail

Notable Varieties & Errors

• Morgan and Peace Dollars have specialized variety collectors (VAM enthusiasts). Some overdates, repunched mintmarks (RPMs), or die breaks are particularly sought after.
• 1972 Type 1, Type 2, Type 3 reverse varieties (Earth detail) on Ike dollars.
• Missing Edge Lettering on Presidential Dollars.
• 1979 Wide Rim / Near Date vs. Narrow Rim / Far Date on Susan B. Anthony.

• Nickels: 1942–1945: 35% silver
• Dimes, Quarters, Half Dollars: Pre-1965 90% silver (for standard circulation strikes)
• Half Dollars: 1965–1970: 40% silver
• Dollars (Morgan, Peace, older commemoratives): 90% silver.
  Ike 40% silver (select 1971–1976)