Obverse

Reverse

One Cent ($0.01)

Lincoln Memorial Cent

United States of America · 1990

A standard 1990 Denver mint US penny featuring Abraham Lincoln on the obverse and the Lincoln Memorial on the reverse.

Country: United States of America
Year: 1990
Denomination: One Cent ($0.01)
Metal: Copper-plated zinc (97.5% Zinc, 2.5% Copper)

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.

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Overview

A standard 1990 Denver mint US penny featuring Abraham Lincoln on the obverse and the Lincoln Memorial on the reverse.

Historical significance

The Lincoln Memorial reverse design was introduced in 1959 to commemorate the 150th anniversary of Lincoln's birth, replacing the previous 'Wheat' design. By 1990, the composition had been changed (since 1982) from mostly copper to copper-plated zinc to save on production costs.

Obverse (front)

Portrait of Abraham Lincoln facing right. Legends: 'IN GOD WE TRUST' above, 'LIBERTY' to the left, and the date '1990' with mint mark 'D' to the right. Designer: Victor D. Brenner.

Reverse (back)

Front view of the Lincoln Memorial. Legends: 'UNITED STATES OF AMERICA' and 'E PLURIBUS UNUM' above, 'ONE CENT' below. Designer: Frank Gasparro.

Estimated value

$0.01 in circulated condition; $0.10-$2.00 in high uncirculated Mint State grades.

What drives this coin's value

Condition (grade) and presence of errors. In this case, the circular scratch significantly reduces any potential premium.

Grade assessment

Extremely Fine to About Uncirculated. The coin shows visible circular scratches/damage on the obverse (likely from a coin sorting machine) and general light wear.

Mintage & rarity

4,925,504,511; very common.

Authenticity & counterfeit red flags

Counterfeits of common 1990-D cents are nearly non-existent. Check for weight (2.5g) to ensure it is not a 1982 transition error.

Notable varieties & errors

There are no major widely recognized 'key' varieties for the 1990-D, though collectors look for doubling in the date or 'D' mint mark.

Similar coins

1990 Philadelphia (no mint mark) or 1990-S Proof coins. Also similar to other Lincoln Memorial cents from 1959-2008.

Care & preservation

Do not clean or polish the coin, as this destroys numismatic value. Store in a PVC-free holder in a dry environment to prevent 'zinc rot' or corrosion.

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Overview

Historical significance

Obverse (front)

Reverse (back)

Estimated value

What drives this coin's value

Grade assessment

Mintage & rarity

Authenticity & counterfeit red flags

Notable varieties & errors

Similar coins

Care & preservation

Other united states of america coins

Learn about Lincoln Memorial Cent in the encyclopedia