Obverse

Reverse

1 Cent

Lincoln Memorial Cent

United States · 1989

A copper-plated zinc Lincoln cent featuring a portrait of Abraham Lincoln on the obverse and the Lincoln Memorial on the reverse.

Country: United States
Year: 1989
Denomination: 1 Cent
Metal: 97.5% Zinc, 2.5% Copper plating
Grade: About Uncirculated / Mint State (AU/MS) with minor blemishes and toning.

This report is AI-generated and can be wrong. Always verify grade, authenticity, and value with a qualified dealer or certified grading service before buying, selling, or insuring.

Identified September 18, 2026More united states coins →

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Overview

A copper-plated zinc Lincoln cent featuring a portrait of Abraham Lincoln on the obverse and the Lincoln Memorial on the reverse.

Historical significance

Introduced in 1959 to mark the sesquicentennial of Lincoln's birth, replacing the wheat ears reverse. This particular year falls near the end of the Cold War era and represents standard modern American pocket change.

Obverse (front)

Right-facing bust of Abraham Lincoln with the motto 'IN GOD WE TRUST' above, 'LIBERTY' to the left, and the year '1989' to the right. Designed by Victor D. Brenner.

Reverse (back)

Depiction of the Lincoln Memorial with the denomination 'ONE CENT' below, 'UNITED STATES OF AMERICA' and 'E PLURIBUS UNUM' above. Designed by Frank Gasparro.

Estimated value

$0.01 - $0.05 in circulated condition

What drives this coin's value

Condition, presence of full mint red luster, and notable mint errors such as doubled dies.

Grade assessment

About Uncirculated / Mint State (AU/MS) with minor blemishes and toning.

Mintage & rarity

Very high mintage, extremely common. Billions were produced across mints.

Authenticity & counterfeit red flags

Counterfeits of modern face-value cents are practically non-existent because the cost of production exceeds the coin's face value.

Notable varieties & errors

Various doubled die obverse (DDO) and doubled die reverse (DDR) errors exist for 1989, though most are minor.

Similar coins

Lincoln Shield Cent (2010-present), Lincoln Wheat Cent (1909-1958)

Care & preservation

Store in a cool, dry environment in a 2x2 cardboard coin flip or archival plastic holder. Avoid cleaning, as cleaning ruins any potential collector value.

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