Did you find a penny from 1984 and are wondering how much you can sell it for? Or do you want to add this penny to your collection and want to know how much money you should put towards it? Either way, you are on the right page.
In this article, we will talk about the 1984 penny value, history, errors, and more! Continue reading to have all your questions answered and enjoy!
1984 Penny Value Details
- Category – Lincoln Memorial cent
- Mint – Philadelphia, Denver, San Francisco
- Mintage – 7 723 383 016
- Obverse designer – Victor David Brenner
- Reverse designer – Frank Gasparro
- Composition – 97.5% zinc, 2.5% copper
- Weight – 2.5 grams (0.08 ounces)
- Diameter – 19 millimeters (0.74 inches)
- Thickness – 1.52 millimeters (0.05 inches)
The 1984 penny belongs to the category of Lincoln Memorial cent, put into circulation in 1959. It was made in three mints – Philadelphia, Denver, and San Francisco.
The front of the coin was designed by Victor D. Brenner and the back by Frank Gasparro. The coin is made of mostly zinc and 2.5% copper. It weighs two and a half grams and is nineteen millimeters in diameter.
There were almost eight billion pennies made in 1984, which means that they are far from rare. I am sorry to disappoint you but if you found a 1984 penny and were planning to sell it, you will probably not get more than several cents, and if you are lucky, several dollars.
Also Read: Top 20 Most Valuable Old Pennies Worth Money (Penny Collection)
1984 Penny Value Chart
The starting price of a 1984 penny that is in poor condition is its face value or one cent. That is if anyone is willing to buy it in the first place.
The price rises to around fifty cents if a coin is in fine condition, and rises to around 5 dollars for coins in uncirculated condition.
You can get up to around ten dollars if your coin is in perfect condition, meaning it is graded 67+. There are some instances when you can expect to sell a 1984 penny for more than this, but we will talk about them later.
| Condition | 1984 No Mint Mark Penny Value | 1984 D Mint Mark Penny Value | 1984 S Mint Mark Penny Value |
| Poor | $0.01 | $0.01 | $0.01 |
| Fair | $0.01 | $0.01 | $0.01 |
| About good | $0.01 | $0.01 | $0.01 |
| Good | $0.01 | $0.01 | $0.01 – $0.50 |
| Fine | $0.01 – $0.50 | $0.01 – $0.50 | $0.50 – $1 |
| Very fine | $0.50 – $1 | $0.50 – $1 | $1 – $1.50 |
| Extremely fine | $1 – $1.50 | $1 – $1.50 | $1.50 – $2 |
| About Uncirculated | $1.50 – $2 | $1.50 – $2 | $2 – $5 |
| Mint state (60-64) | $2 – $3 | $2 – $3 | $5 – $6 |
| Mint state (65-67) | $3 – $4 | $3 – $4 | $6 – $7 |
| Mint state (68-70) | $4 – $5 | $4 – $5 | $7 – $10 |
1984 Penny Value & Varieties Guide
There are three varieties of a 1984 penny because it was minted in three different locations. Let’s talk more about them one by one so you can better understand your penny’s value.
1984 No Mint Mark Penny Value
A penny from 1984 with no mint mark was produced in Philadelphia. This mint made more than eight billion of these cents in 1984.
The price reflects the number of coins minted as this penny is extremely common and cheap to buy. The price starts at one cent and reaches only around five dollars, even in a mint state.
- Type – Lincoln Memorial cent
- Edge – plain
- Mint mark – no mint mark
- Place of minting – Philadelphia
- Year of minting – 1984
- Face value – one cent
- Price – $0.01 – $5
- Quantity produced – 8 151 079 000
- Designer – Victor D. Brenner and Frank Gasparro
- Composition – 97.5% zinc and 2.5% copper
- Mass – 2.5 grams (0.08 ounces)
- Diameter – 19 millimeters (0.74 inches)
1984 D Mint Mark Penny Value
The 1984- D penny was minted in Denver. The Denver mint produced more than five and a half billion of these coins in 1984. You can recognize them by the D mint mark.
These pennies are similar to the ones without a mint mark when it comes to their price. They are usually not worth more than a few cents but can reach the price of approximately five dollars if in mint state.
- Type – Lincoln Memorial cent
- Edge – plain
- Mint mark – D mint mark
- Place of minting – Denver
- Year of minting – 1984
- Face value – one cent
- Price – $0.01 – $5
- Quantity produced – 5 569 238 906
- Designer – Victor D. Brenner and Frank Gasparro
- Composition – 97.5% zinc and 2.5% copper
- Mass – 2.5 grams (0.08 ounces)
- Diameter – 19 millimeters (0.74 inches)
1984 S Mint Mark Penny Value
The San Francisco mint produced only proof pennies in 1984. These coins are of higher quality than regular ones, making them perfect for collectors and investors.
The proof coins are usually much rarer and more expensive than the normal ones too. However, in the case of proof pennies from 1984, this is not the case. This is because the San Francisco mint produced more than three million of these pennies.
While this is just a fraction of what the other two mints produced, it is still a big number, so they are easily accessible on the market, making them only slightly more valuable than the pennies with no and D mint mark.
The starting price is one cent for the proof coins in poor condition, but they can reach the price of around ten dollars if they look unused.
- Type – Lincoln Memorial cent
- Edge – plain
- Mint mark – S mint mark
- Place of minting – San Francisco
- Year of minting – 1984
- Face value – one cent
- Price – $0.01 – $10
- Quantity produced – 3 065 110
- Designer – Victor D. Brenner and Frank Gasparro
- Composition – 97.5% zinc and 2.5% copper
- Mass – 2.5 grams (0.08 ounces)
- Diameter – 19 millimeters (0.74 inches)
1984 Penny History
A penny first appeared in US history right after the US Mint was opened in 1792. The first coins were made entirely out of copper, but the composition has changed several times since then.
The first pennies depicted a woman representing liberty on the front and this design went on for over sixty years. In 1857 the penny’s composition changed to include nickel too, and the design changed to feature an eagle on the front and a wreath on the reverse of a coin.
This particular design stuck around for only two years and was replaced by the famous Indian Head penny that lasted until 1909. It was replaced by the penny that featured Abraham Lincoln’s portrait on the obverse and two wheat branches on the reverse.
The penny that we are talking about today was put into circulation in 1959. The obverse was still the same design that was running since 1909 but the reverse was changed to Frank Gasparro’s design of the Lincoln Memorial.
This design was actual until 2009 when the US Mint honored the bicentennial by introducing the Lincoln cent for the first time. Throughout this year, the mint put four different pennies in circulation to represent different aspects of the ex-president’s life.
The penny got its latest design in 2010.
1984 Penny Appearance
A 1984 penny is brown-reddish. Its central theme is a right-facing portrait of Abraham Lincoln, designed by Victor David Brenner. On top of the ex-president’s portrait are the words IN GOD WE TRUST, which is one of the mottos of the US.
The left side of the coin is engraved with the word LIBERTY, representing one of the main values of the United States. The right side is engraved with the year 1984.
Right below the year is a mint mark, either D or S, depending on the location of the coin’s production. If a penny was produced in Philadelphia, there is no mint mark indicating it.
The reverse of a penny from 1984 features the Lincoln Memorial, a monument built in 1922 in Washington D.C. to honor one of the most important historical figures of the US.
Right above the Memorial are the words ET PLURIBUS UNUM which are used to indicate the unity of all the US states. Above this motto are the words UNITED STATES OF AMERICA. The denomination, ONE CENT, is engraved below the Lincoln Memorial on the reverse.
1984 Penny Grading
Grading a 1984 penny is done on a scale of one to seventy, with the lower grades indicating that a coin is in poor condition, and the higher grades indicating that a penny is in mint state.
It can be difficult to correctly grade a coin if you are not experienced in the matter. In order to avoid pricing your penny incorrectly, it’s best to take it to a professional coin grader.
List of 1984 Penny Errors
Since the pennies made in 1984 are not really valuable, it’s important to notice that their price can increase with some of the unique mint errors that may happen during the minting process. The errors on coins make them more pricey because the mistakes make them less common.
This is another reason you should always have your coins professionally graded – while some of the mistakes are evident, some require a keen eye. You don’t want to miss an opportunity to sell your 1984 penny for more than you initially expect!
1. 1984 Penny Off-Center Error
This is one of the most interesting errors that you can see on a coin. It happens when a planchet, a piece of metal on which the dies strike the design, is not properly aligned on the machine.
This mistake results in a small or large part of the design missing from a coin, with the rest of the coin being flat and plain.
In the case of a 1984 penny, it can sell for at least $10 and more if it is in great condition.
2. 1984 Penny Double Die Obverse Error
The double die obverse error happens when the dies strike the front of a coin twice. This results in a double design or at least parts of the design. The most common part of this coin that is double-died is Abraham Lincoln’s ear.
If you have a 1984 penny with this error, you can expect to sell it for around $20 to $100. The exact price will depend on the condition of the coin and the severity of the error.
3. 1984 Penny Double Mint Mark
Also known as repunched mint mark, this error happens when the mint mark is struck twice. It is not always easy to notice, so make sure to inspect your coin thoroughly.
This error can increase the price of a coin by at least several dollars, but much more if your coin is in mint state and graded 65+.
1984 Penny FAQ
Is the 1984 penny worth anything?
A 1984 penny is usually not worth a lot as the US Mint produced almost eight billion of these coins. The value of this penny starts at just around one cent.
The most you can get for a regular 1984 penny without any error or other unique features is usually around 5 to 10 dollars.
If you have a coin that has an interesting error, you can expect to get much more, but the exact price will depend on the rarity of the mint mistake and the condition of the coin.
How much copper is in 1984 penny?
A penny from 1984 contains only 2.5% copper. The rest of the penny is zinc.
How many grams is a 1984 penny?
A 1984 penny should weigh 2.5 grams or 0.08 ounces. However, if the coin has been in circulation for decades, it’s possible that the weight is slightly smaller than this.
Is a 1984 penny rare?
No, a 1984 penny is not rare. There were close to 8 000 000 000 of these coins produced so there are plenty of them on the market currently.
What is a 1984 double-ear penny?
The double ear penny refers to one of the relatively common errors on a cent from 1984. It is a double-die error where the ear on the portrait of Abraham Lincoln was struck twice.