Lincoln Memorial Cent
Country of Origin: United States
Year of Issue: 1992
Denomination: One Cent ($0.01)
Composition: Copper-Plated Zinc (97.5% Zinc, 2.5% Copper)
Brief Description
A copper-colored U.S. penny featuring the profile of Abraham Lincoln on the obverse and the Lincoln Memorial on the reverse.
Historical Significance
The Lincoln Cent was first issued in 1909 to commemorate the 100th anniversary of Abraham Lincoln's birth. The Memorial reverse was introduced in 1959.
Estimated Value
$0.01 face value in circulated condition; $1-$5 in high uncirculated grades; potentially thousands for the rare 'Close AM' variety.
Care Instructions
Handle by the edges; do not clean or polish as this removes the original surface luster and significantly reduces numismatic value.
Mint Mark
None (Philadelphia Mint)
Mintage & Rarity
Common; 4,648,290,000 produced. The 1992 Philadelphia is not rare unless it is the Close AM variety.
Weight & Diameter
2.5 grams, 19.05 mm
Edge
Plain
Apparent Grade
Circulated (around Very Fine to Extremely Fine) showing some surface hits, toning, and flattening of high-point details.
Obverse (Front)
Right-facing profile of Abraham Lincoln, 'IN GOD WE TRUST' at top, 'LIBERTY' to the left, and the date '1992' to the right. Designed by Victor David Brenner.
Reverse (Back)
The Lincoln Memorial building, 'UNITED STATES OF AMERICA' and 'E PLURIBUS UNUM' above, and 'ONE CENT' below. Designed by Frank Gasparro.
What Drives This Coin's Value
Condition/Grade is key. For this specific year, the 'Close AM' variety is the primary value driver.
Similar Coins
1992-D (Denver) penny, which features a 'D' mint mark. 1992-S Proof pennies.
Authenticity & Counterfeit Red Flags
Check for zinc 'rot' or bubbling, which is common in authentic copper-plated zinc cents. For the rare variety, use a magnifying glass to check spacing between 'A' and 'M' in AMERICA.
Notable Varieties & Errors
1992 Close AM: The letters 'A' and 'M' in 'AMERICA' are almost touching. This is a rare transition error where a 1993 reverse die was used for a 1992 coin.
Created At: 2026-05-09T03:39:17.169565