The 1999 penny is part of the US Mint’s Lincoln Memorial series. The first edition was produced in 1909 to commemorate the president’s 100th birth anniversary.
Throughout the years, the Lincoln cents have undertaken major facelifts – ranging from design to metal composition.
There are various 1999 pennies you can find in circulation – while some remain unreleased. And, depending on their state – or error – their values can range, as you’ll see below.
1999 Penny Value Details
- Minted at: Philadelphia (no mint mark)
- Mintage: 5,237,600,000
- Designation: MS
- Strike Type: Business
- Obverse Designer: Victor Brenner
- Reverse Designer: Frank Gasparro
- Metal Composition:5% Zinc – 2.5% Copper after 1982
- Fineness:83
- Mass / Weight: 5 grams
- Thickness: 52 mm
- Diameter:19 mm
- Edge: Plain
- Shape: Round
- Coinage Years: 1959-2008
1999 Penny Value Chart
| Mint Mark | Good | Fine | Extremely Fine | Uncirculated | Proof |
| 1999 No Mint Mark Penny Value | $0.01 | $0.01 | $0.01 | $0.34 | n/a |
| 1999 Penny: Wide AM Value | $0.01 | $0.01 | $0.01 | $572 | n/a |
| 1999-D Penny Value | $0.01 | $0.01 | $0.01 | $0.34 | n/a |
| 1999-S Penny Value | n/a | n/a | n/a | n/a | $6.81 |
| 1999-S Penny: Close AM Value | $94 |
1999 Penny Value and Varieties Guides
1999 No Mint Mark Penny Value
- Type: 1999 Penny
- Minted at: Philadelphia (no mint mark)
- Year of minting: 1999
- Face value: $0.01 (one cent)
- Price:$0.34
- Quantity produced: 5,237,600,000
- Designer – Engraver: Frank Gasparro
- Metal Composition: 5% Zinc – 2.5% Copper after 1982
- Mass / Weight: 5 grams
- Diameter: 19 mm
The no-mint 1999 penny has no mark/initial, compared to the ‘D’ or ‘S’ you’ll see in similar editions. And, just like the Lincoln cents before it, it comes with a trademark design. In the obverse, you’ll find the President’s bust, the statement ‘In God We Trust’, and the word ‘Liberty.’
As for the reverse, you’ll see the Lincoln Memorial Building, the country’s name (United States of America), the penny value (one cent), and the motto ‘E Pluribus Unum.’ This translated American motto means “Out of many, one.”
Despite its prevalence, some coin collectors have paid a hefty price for this coin. In fact, one was auctioned off for an impressive $138,000 in the year 2006.
1999 Penny: Wide AM Value
- Type: 1999 Penny
- Minted at: Philadelphia (no mint mark)
- Year of minting: 1999
- Face value: $0.01 (one cent)
- Price:$572
- Quantity produced: none (uncirculated)
- Designer – Engraver: Frank Gasparro
- Metal Composition: 5% Zinc – 2.5% Copper after 1982
- Mass / Weight: 5 grams
- Diameter: 19 mm
One of the two major varieties developed by the US Mint in 1999 is the wide AM Lincoln cent. As the name suggests, the letters A and M have a more expansive space between them.
As for the FG initials, they are closer to the Lincoln Memorial Building – compared to the 1999 penny close AM variety.
Because this penny is uncirculated and rare, it has a high value of $572. In fact, an MS 68-grade penny was sold for $3,850.
1999-D Penny Value
- Type: 1999 Penny
- Minted at: Denver
- Year of minting: 1999
- Face value: $0.01 (one cent)
- Price:$0.34
- Quantity produced: 6,360,065,000
- Designer – Engraver: Frank Gasparro
- Metal Composition: 5% Zinc – 2.5% Copper after 1982
- Mass / Weight: 5 grams
- Diameter: 19 mm
Compared to the no mint mark 1999 penny, the D penny has the letter ‘D’ (for Denver) under 1999.
It’s produced in more quantities, too – more than a million more than the no-mint edition, unlike the other 1999 Lincoln cents in this list. It has no close AM or wide AM errors, as you’ll find in pennies minted in Philadelphia or San Francisco.
While there were a lot of D pennies in circulation, they could still sell for a steep price. In 2013, a coin with an MS 69 rating was auctioned off for $1,293.
1999-S Penny Value
- Type: 1999 Penny
- Minted at: San Francisco
- Year of minting: 1999
- Face value: $0.01 (one cent)
- Price:$6.81
- Quantity produced: 3,347,966
- Designer – Engraver: Frank Gasparro
- Metal Composition: 5% Zinc – 2.5% Copper after 1982
- Mass / Weight: 5 grams
- Diameter: 19 mm
- Edge: Smooth
The San-Francisco minted 1999 penny denotes the letter ‘S’ under the year, compared to the no mint mark Lincoln cent. It’s produced in lesser quantities compared to the latter and the 1999-D penny, which makes for its $6.81 value.
However, you may get a higher bang for your buck if your S-penny has a high mint grade (MS 67 or higher.) Errors such as double die or minting errors may also put a higher value on this coin.
1999-S Penny: Close AM Value
- Type: 1999 Penny
- Minted at: San Francisco
- Year of minting: 1999
- Face value: $0.01 (one cent)
- Price:$94
- Quantity produced: none (uncirculated)
- Designer – Engraver: Frank Gasparro
- Metal Composition: 5% Zinc – 2.5% Copper after 1982
- Mass / Weight: 5 grams
- Diameter: 19 mm
As the name suggests, the close AM 1999-S penny has the letters ‘A’ and ‘M’ situated near each other. The FG initials of Frank Gasparro, on the other hand, are farther away from the Lincoln Memorial Building.
There’s also the letter S, which stands for San Francisco, under the year 1999.
The S-penny with the close AM design is considered a collectible by many, which is why it is priced at $94 – and higher, depending on the condition.
Also Read: Top 20 Most Valuable Old Pennies Worth Money (Penny Collection)
1999 Penny History
Wheat Cent Beginnings
The 1999 penny is a type of coin produced by the United States Mint since 1909. The first collections, which were printed up to 1958, feature two wheat stalks on the obverse – hence the name ‘wheat pennies’ (or Wheaties.)
The reverse, on the other hand, depicted several designs – including a Union shield designed by Lyndall Bass.
Wheat cents value range according to rarity. Some sell as low as 4 cents, while the rare 1909 VDB can clock in at $700 to $1500 apiece.
Lincoln Memorial Design History
Putting Lincoln in the design was first considered in 1952. However, many believed that incoming President Dwight Eisenhower might refuse to replace the current Republican on the cent.
Such pieces were struck in 1955 with a double die, a standard printing error. But rather than destroying this collection, the US mint released them.
The US mint officially produced the Lincoln memorial design starting in 1959 – as announced by Eisenhower’s press secretary, James Hagerty.
1999 Penny Design History
The coin is styled by Frank Gasparro, the tenth chief engraver of the US mint. The design was developed in coordination with the Treasury Department and the Lincoln Sesquicentennial Commission.
Interestingly, Gasparro has never been to the Lincoln Memorial – though many believe he created an impressive version of the building. However, some deem it to be the image of a ‘trolley car’ – while some tag it as an ‘artistic disaster.’
Despite these unsavory comments, the Gasparro-designed penny was eventually released on February 12, 1959, to coincide with Lincoln’s 150th birth anniversary.
1999 Penny Composition History
Because of the increase in copper prices, the composition of Lincoln pennies was changed to copper-covered zinc. This makes the 1999 penny’s mass lower – as is those produced after 1981 – lower at only 2.5 grams. In fact, it’s lighter than 2.7-gram wartime Lincoln cents.
This is a far cry from the early-day Lincoln cents, which were made with 95% copper (and the rest, zinc.) By 1943, the coins were minted with a zinc-plated steel composition before they were given the zinc-rich make it has today.
1999 Penny Grading
1999 pennies are graded according to the Sheldon Scale. Developed in1948 by numismatist Dr. William Sheldon, this categorizes coins according to:
- Mint state – 60 (covered with marks) to 70 (flawless)
- Proof – struck in the year 1817 or later
- Specimen – for coins released before the year 1817
Lists of 1999 Penny Error
1. 1999 Penny Broad Strike Error
1999 pennies that haven’t been properly struck bear a broad strike error. These are known for their raised rims around the coin edges.
2. 1999 Penny Off-Center Error
Some 1999 pennies are off-die or off-center. This means the planchet was uneven, or the coin was erroneously positioned during striking. Coins with this trivial error can cost anywhere from $5 to $6. However, the more off-center the penny is, the higher the value.
3. 1999 Penny Cracked Die Error
Some 1999 Lincoln pennies were printed with a crack die. As a result, the coin’s surface is not as flawless as it should be.
4. 1999 Penny Double Die Error
1999 pennies with double die errors are produced by the hubbing process – or when the hub creates the die.
During this phase, the die is struck multiple times to transfer the design details. But when one strike is done at a different position, the penny design will appear ‘doubled.’
5. 1999 Penny Clipped Planchet Error
This error is caused by some metal chunks being removed from the coin before striking. As a result, the penny may have raised divots or rims.
In some cases, the coin may turn out irregularly shaped.
6. 1999 Penny Obverse / Dime Reverse Error
In 1999, somebody picked up coins from a bank – and was surprised by what they saw. A coin with an obverse/front shows the 1999 penny design, although with some letters at the edge worn away.
But when they flipped the penny, they saw the 1999 dime on the reverse.
This mistake seems to be one-of-a-kind, for only one erroneous penny has been seen so far. And, because of this rarity, this Lincoln cent has been valued at a whopping $138,000.
1999 Penny Value FAQs
How much is the 1999 penny worth?
The price depends on the style/edition. The no-mint mark penny and 1999-D penny, which are widely circulated, only costs $0.34 each.
The 1999-S penny, on the other hand, is valued at $6.81 a pop.
The 1999-S penny close AM, which is uncirculated, goes for $94.
The most expensive 1999 penny is the one with the wide AM, which is priced at $572 per coin.
What is the error on a 1999 penny?
There are several errors you could find on a 1999 penny.
One is an off-center error, where the image is not in the middle – where it should be.
There’s also the cracked die error, which produces a flawed coin surface. The double die error, on the other hand, results in a ‘doubled’ design.
Broadstrikes and clipped planchets can affect the coin’s appearance as well.
Perhaps the most expensive error is the 1999 penny obverse/dime reverse, where penny details are on the front – while dime details are on the back. This rare coin is valued at $138,000.
How rare is the 1999 wide AM penny?
The 1999 penny with wide AM is rare as it is uncirculated. As such, it has a high value of $572 – with a fine-grade penny being auctioned for $3,850.
How much is a 1999 D penny Close AM worth?
The 1999 D penny costs $0.34, with fine-grade coins selling for as much as $1,293.
Is a 1999 penny supposed to have a wide am or close am?
The 1999 S penny both has the wide AM and close AM varieties. The former is the more common one, as over 3 million pieces of this coin have been produced.
There are close AM S-penny editions, which are uncirculated, thus the higher value.
The same variations go with no mint mark 1999 pennies. The close AM is widely released, while the wide AM one is uncirculated. Unsurprisingly, the latter comes with a value of $572 a pop.