• This penny is known as 'the undisputed King of Canadian Pennies'. After King Edward VIII's abdicated the throne in 1936 the Royal Canadian Mint's molds were no longer valid. So to make sure these new pennies were different, they added a raised 'dot' below the date.
• In Canada, a penny is a coin worth one cent, or 1 ⁄ 100 of a dollar.According to the Royal Canadian Mint, the official national term of the coin is the 'one-cent piece', but in practice the terms penny and cent predominate. Originally, 'penny' referred to a two-cent coin. When the two-cent coin was discontinued, penny took over as the new one-cent coin's name.

The Canadian penny calculator shows the total copper value and total copper content derived from the amount of copper contained in uncirculated Canadian pennies that have no wear. If your pennies have some wear due to circulation, they will not contain as much copper.

Lincoln Memorial Penny Overview

Minted continuously for nearly 60 years, the Lincoln Memorial penny is the most familiar cent piece to the majority of Americans today.

This coin was first struck in 1959, the sesquicentennial (150-year anniversary) of Abraham Lincoln’s birth. It was the successor to the much beloved Wheat penny which had been minted for fifty years prior.

The Lincoln Memorial penny maintained the same obverse that the Wheat penny had featured, the famous portrait of Lincoln designed by Victor David Brenner. The reverse design, which was created by Frank Gasparro, is all that was changed

The new reverse features the eponymous Lincoln Memorial building with a miniscule Lincoln statue seated in the center.

Immediately above the building is the motto “E PLURIBUS UNUM.” Along the upper rim is the legend “UNITED STATES OF AMERICA,” and along the lower rim is the denomination “ONE CENT.”

The Lincoln Memorial cent saw several composition changes throughout its lifespan. Beginning in 1959 with 95% copper and 5% tin and zinc, it was altered in 1962 to 95% copper and 5% zinc. It was altered again in 1982 to copper-plated zinc, a composition of 97.6% zinc and 2.4% copper.

The Lincoln Memorial cent was minted until 2009, when it was replaced by a special penny commemorating the bicentennial of Lincoln’s birth. The following year, it was replaced by the Shield cent.

Still, the Lincoln Memorial cent dominates the population of circulated pennies and remains a ubiquitous coin.

History of the 1964 Lincoln Memorial Penny

1964 was a prolific year for the penny, with over 6 billion cents struck. Pennies were minted this year in two locations: Philadelphia and Denver.

Denver struck the most coins of the two locations: 3,799,071,500. Coins from Denver are marked by a “D” that can be found below the mintage date on the reverse.

Philadelphia reports striking 2,652,525,762 pennies this year. Philadelphia mintages display no mint mark.

In fact, the 1964 pennies are the last pennies to display mint marks before the marks were removed as part of the Coinage Act of 1965 to prevent excessive hoarding of cent pieces. The marks would be restored only three years later in 1968.

Another result of this act was that pennies minted through 1965 were struck with a date of 1964. Thus, many of the 1964 pennies found in circulated today were actually minted the following year.

As part of the cent pieces minted between the 1962 and 1982 composition changes, the 1964 penny is made of 95% copper and 5% zinc. Also standard to these coins, the 1964 penny has a diameter of 19mm and a mass of 3.11 grams.

Valuing the 1964 Lincoln Memorial Penny

The Lincoln Memorial series, including the 1964 issue, is still extremely common, and it is not unlikely today to find a 1964 penny among one’s pocket change.

Accordingly, most examples of this issue are not worth above face value and are better used as currency than as a collector’s item. That said, collectors seeking to complete a Lincoln Memorial cent set may still value this coin.

1964 pennies, like all coins that contain a significant portion of copper, are graded in terms of color and may receive one of three designations: Brown, Red-Brown, and Red. Brown is least desirable, and Red is the most desirable.

This coloring can raise the value of a 1964 penny a fair portion, so we will examine the value in terms of these three colors.

Brown 1964 pennies of grades up to MS-60 are valued at $0.05. MS-60 examples are worth $0.10, and this increases to $0.25 in MS-63, $0.75 in MS-64, and $2.50 in MS-65.

Red-Brown pennies are worth generally around the same in the lower grades, but they fetch a higher price above MS-60. Red-Brown MS-64 examples are valued at $3.00, MS-65 examples at $5.00, and MS-66 examples at $20.00.

Red pennies bring the highest values. Because they represent very low levels of wear and circulation, Red pennies generally only exist in very high grades. Red MS-64 examples are valued between $7.00 and $8.00.

MS-65 examples are worth $14.00-$15.00, and MS-66 examples range from $30 to $65. Examples above MS-66 are valued at up to $1,900, although such coins generally sell only for hundreds.

A special and very rare set of pennies was also minted in 1964, known as the 1964 SMS pennies. These coins display sharp details and a satin-like luster. They can be worth up to $5,000, and one example sold in 2005 for $11,000!

They are extremely scarce, but if you believe you have an SMS penny, consider having it evaluated by a professional coin-grading service like NGC.

ONLINE COINS CATALOG

Previous - Canadian old coins

Kingdom of Canada in the British Commonwealth (from 1952)

Canadian Dollar=100 cents

Elizabeth II queen of Great Britain (from 1952)

2 dollars 1997 (1996-2003)
toonie
bi-metallic - aluminum-bronze/nickel
Diameter 28.0 mm. Weight 7.3 g.
2 DOLLARS / CANADA / polar bear right
ELIZABETH II D G REGINA / 1996 / Queen's crowned head right
KM#270
Coin value - $2-3

2 dollars 2006 (2003-)
toonie
bi-metallic - aluminum-bronze/nickel
Diameter 28.0 mm. Weight 7.3 g.
2 DOLLARS / CANADA / polar bear right
ELIZABETH II D G REGINA / 2006 / Queen's head right
KM#496
Coin value - $2-3

1 dollar 1963 (1953-1963)
silver 0.800
Diameter 36.0 mm. Weight 23.33 g.
KM#54
DOLLAR / CANADA / 1963 / Canoe travelers
ELIZABETH II DEI GRATIA REGINA / Queen's head right
Coin value - $15-17
1 dollar 1966 (1965-1966)
silver 0.800
Diameter 36.0 mm. Weight 23.33 g.
DOLLAR / CANADA / 1966 / Canoe travelers
ELIZABETH II D G REGINA / Queen's head right
KM#64
Coin value - $15-17

1 dollar 1969 (1968-1972)
nickel
Diameter 32.0 mm. Weight 15.64 g.
DOLLAR / CANADA / 1969 / Canoe travelers
ELIZABETH II D G REGINA / Queen's head right
KM#76
Coin value - $3-4

1 dollar 1979 (1978-1987)
nickel
Diameter 32.1 mm. Weight 15.50 g.
DOLLAR / CANADA / 1979 / Canoe travelers
ELIZABETH II D G REGINA / Queen's head right
KM#120
Coin value - $3-4

1 dollar (loonie) 1989 (1987-1989)
aureate-bronze plated nickel
Diameter 26.5 mm. Weight 7.0 g.
DOLLAR / CANADA / 1989 / loon right
ELIZABETH II D G REGINA / Queen's head right
KM#157
Coin value - $1-3

1 dollar (loonie) 1990 (1990-2003)
aureate-bronze plated nickel
Diameter 26.5 mm. Weight 7.0 g.
DOLLAR / CANADA / 1990 / loon right
ELIZABETH II D G REGINA / Queen's crowned head right
KM#186
Coin value - $1-3

1 dollar (loonie) 2009 (2003-2012)
aureate-bronze plated nickel
Diameter 26.5 mm. Weight 7.0 g.
DOLLAR / CANADA / loon right
ELIZABETH II D G REGINA / 2009 / Queen's head right
KM#495
Coin value - $1-2

1 dollar (loonie) 2012 (2012-)
aureate-bronze plated nickel
Diameter 26.5 mm. Weight 7.0 g.
with maple leaf laser mark
DOLLAR / CANADA / loon right
ELIZABETH II D G REGINA /2012 / Queen's head right
Coin value - $1-2

50 cents 1958
silver
50 CENTS / CANADA 1958 / national arms
ELIZABETH II DEI GRATIA REGINA / Queen's head right
KM#53
Coin value - $8-10

50 cents 1962
silver
50 CENTS / CANADA 1962 / national arms
ELIZABETH II DEI GRATIA REGINA / Queen's head right
KM#56
Coin value - $8-10

50 cents 1965
silver
CANADA 196550 CENTS / national arms
ELIZABETH II D G REGINA / Queen's head right
KM#63
Coin value - $6-8

50 cents 1974 (1968-1976)
nickel
Diameter 27.13 mm. Weight 8.1 g.
CANADA 1974 50 CENTS / national arms
ELIZABETH II D G REGINA / Queen's head right
KM#75.1
Coin value - $2-3
50 cents 1977
nickel
Diameter 27.13 mm. Weight 8.1 g.
smaller head
CANADA 1977 50 CENTS / national arms
ELIZABETH II D G REGINA / Queen's head right
KM#75.2
Coin value - $5-7

50 cents 1982 (1978-1989)
nickel
Diameter 27.13 mm. Weight 8.1 g.
redesigned arms
CANADA 1982 50 CENTS / national arms
ELIZABETH II D G REGINA / Queen's head right
KM#75.3
Coin value - $2-3

50 cents 1991 (1990-1996)
nickel
Diameter 27.13 mm. Weight 8.1 g.
CANADA 1991 50 CENTS / national arms
ELIZABETH II D G REGINA / Queen's crowned head right
KM#185
Coin value - $2-3

50 cents 1999 (1997-2003)
nickel
Diameter 27.1 mm. Weight 8.1 g.
redesigned arms
CANADA 199950 CENTS / national arms
ELIZABETH II D G REGINA / Queen's crowned head right
KM#290
Coin value - $3-4

50 cents 2008 (2003-)
nickel plated steel
Diameter 27.13 mm. Weight 6.9 g.
CANADA 200850 CENTS / national arms
ELIZABETH II D G REGINA / Queen's head right
KM#494
Coin value - $3-4

25 cents (quarter) 1963 (1953-1964)
silver 0.800
Diameter 23.8 mm. Weight 5.83 g.
25 CENTS / CANADA 1963 / caribou left
ELIZABETH II DEI GRATIA REGINA / Queen's head right
KM#52
Coin value - $4-5

25 cents (quarter) 1965 (1965-1966)
silver 0.800
Diameter 23.8 mm. Weight 5.83 g.
25 CENTS / CANADA 1965 / caribou left
ELIZABETH II DEI GRATIA REGINA / Queen's head right
KM#62
Coin value - $4-6

25 cents (quarter) 1968
silver 0.500
Diameter 23.8 mm. Weight 5.83 g.
25 CENTS / CANADA 1968 / caribou left
ELIZABETH II DEI GRATIA REGINA / Queen's head right
KM#62a
Coin value - $2-4

25 cents (quarter) 1968 (1968-1978)
nickel
Diameter 23.8 mm. Weight 5.06 g.
25 CENTS / CANADA 1968 / caribou left
ELIZABETH II D G REGINA / Queen's head right
KM#62b
Coin value - <$1

25 cents (quarter) 1986 (1979-1989)
nickel
Diameter 23.88 mm. Weight 5.07 g.
smaller head
25 CENTS / CANADA 1986 / caribou left
ELIZABETH II D G REGINA / Queen's head right
KM#74
Coin value - <$1

25 cents (quarter) 1990 (1990-2001)
nickel
Diameter 23.88 mm. Weight 5.07 g.
25 CENTS / CANADA 1990 / caribou left
ELIZABETH II D G REGINA / Queen's crowned head right
KM#184
Coin value - <$1

25 cents (quarter) 2001 (2001-2003)
nickel plated steel
Diameter 23.88 mm. Weight 4.4 g.
25 CENTS / CANADA 2001 / caribou left
ELIZABETH II D G REGINA / Queen's crowned head right
KM#184b
Coin value - <$1

25 cents (quarter) 2006 (2003-)
nickel plated steel
Diameter 23.90 mm. Weight 4.4 g.
25 CENTS / CANADA 2006/
caribou left
ELIZABETH II D G REGINA / Queen's head right
KM#493
Coin value - <$1

10 cents (dime) 1964 (1953-1964)
silver 0.800
Diameter 18.00 mm. Weight 2.31 g.
CANADA / 1964 / 10 CENTS / Bluenose sailing left
ELIZABETH II DEI GRATIA REGINA / Queen's head right
KM#51
Coin value - $2-3

10 cents (dime) 1965 (1965-1966)
silver 0.800
Diameter 18.03 mm. Weight 2.33 g.
CANADA / 1965 / 10 CENTS / Bluenose sailing left
ELIZABETH II D G REGINA / Queen's head right
KM#61
Coin value - $1-2

10 cents (dime) 1968
silver 0.500
Diameter 18.03 mm. Weight 2.33 g.
CANADA / 1968 / 10 CENTS / Bluenose sailing left
ELIZABETH II D G REGINA / Queen's head right
KM#73
Coin value - $2-3

10 cents (dime) 1968
nickel
Diameter 18.03 mm. Weight 2.33 g.
CANADA / 1968 / 10 CENTS / Bluenose sailing left
ELIZABETH II D G REGINA / Queen's head right
KM#73
Coin value - <$1

10 cents (dime) 1972 (1969-1978)
nickel
Diameter 18.03 mm. Weight 2.07 g.
Bluenose smaller
CANADA / 1972 / 10 CENTS / Bluenose sailing left
ELIZABETH II D G REGINA / Queen's head right
KM#77.1
Coin value - ~$1

10 cents (dime) 1981 (1979-1989)
nickel
Diameter 18.03 mm. Weight 2.07 g.
smaller head
CANADA / 1981 / 10 CENTS / Bluenose sailing left
ELIZABETH II D G REGINA / Queen's head right
KM#77.2
Coin value - ~$1

10 cents (dime) 1991 (1990-2003)
nickel plated steel
Diameter 18.03 mm. Weight 1.77 g.
CANADA / 1991 / 10 CENTS / Bluenose sailing left
ELIZABETH II D G REGINA / Queen's crowned head right
KM#183
Coin value - <$1

10 cents (dime) 2006 (2003-)
nickel plated steel
Diameter 18.00 mm. Weight 1.77 g.
CANADA / 2006 / 10 CENTS / Bluenose sailing left
ELIZABETH II D G REGINA / Queen's head right
KM#492
Coin value - <$1

5 cents (nickel) 1954 (1953-1954)
chromium-nickel plated steel
Diameter 21.20 mm. Weight 4.59 g.
5 CENTS / CANADA 1954 / beaver left
ELIZABETH II DEI GRATIA REGINA / Queen's head right
KM#50
Coin value - $1-2

5 cents (nickel) 1960 (1955-1962)
nickel
Diameter 21.20 mm. Weight 4.59 g.
5 CENTS / CANADA 1960 / beaver left
ELIZABETH II DEI GRATIA REGINA / Queen's head right
KM#50a
Coin value - <$1

5 cents (nickel) 1963 (1963-1964)
nickel
Diameter 21.20 mm. Weight 4.59 g.
5 CENTS / CANADA 1963 / beaver left
ELIZABETH II DEI GRATIA REGINA / Queen's head right
KM#57
Coin value - <$1

5 cents (nickel) 1973 (1965-1978)
nickel
Diameter 21.20 mm. Weight 4.54 g.
5 CENTS / CANADA 1973 / beaver left
ELIZABETH II D G REGINA / Queen's head right
KM#60.1
Coin value - <$1

5 cents (nickel) 1979 (1979-1981)
nickel
Diameter 21.20 mm. Weight 4.54 g.
5 CENTS / CANADA 1979 / beaver left
ELIZABETH II D G REGINA / Queen's head right
KM#60.2
Coin value - <$1

5 cents (nickel) 1989 (1982-1989)
copper-nickel
Diameter 21.20 mm. Weight 4.60 g.

1964 Canadian Penny Value Uncirculated

5 CENTS / CANADA 1989 / beaver left
ELIZABETH II D G REGINA / Queen's head right
KM#60.2a
Coin value - <$1

5 cents (nickel) 1993 (1990-2003)
copper-nickel
Diameter 19.55 mm. Weight 4.60 g.
5 CENTS / CANADA 1993 / beaver left
ELIZABETH II D G REGINA / Queen's crowned head right
KM#182
Coin value - <$1

5 cents (nickel) 2008 (2003-)
nickel plated steel
Diameter 21.20 mm. Weight 3.95 g.
5 CENTS / CANADA 2008 / beaver left
ELIZABETH II D G REGINA / Queen's head right
KM#491
Coin value - <$1

1 cent (penny) 1964 (1953-1964)
bronze
Diameter 19.10 mm. Weight 3.24 g.
1 CENT / 1964 / CANADA / two maple leaves
ELIZABETH II DEI GRATIA REGINA / Queen's head right
KM#49
Coin value - <$1

1 cent (penny) 1969 (1965-1977)
bronze
Diameter 19.10 mm. Weight 3.24 g.
1 CENT / 1969 / CANADA / two maple leaves
ELIZABETH II D G REGINA / Queen's head right
KM#59.1 (thick planchet)
Coin value - <$1

1 cent (penny) 1979 (1978-1979)
bronze
Diameter 19.10 mm. Weight 3.24 g.
1 CENT / 1979 / CANADA / two maple leaves
ELIZABETH II D G REGINA / Queen's head right

1964 Canadian Penny Coin Value

KM#59.2 (thin planchet)
Coin value - <$1

1 cent (penny) 1981 (1980-1981)
bronze
Diameter 19.10 mm. Weight 2.80 g.
1 CENT / 1981 / CANADA / two maple leaves
ELIZABETH II D G REGINA / Queen's head right
KM#127
Coin value - <$1

1 cent (penny) 1989 (1982-1989)
bronze
Diameter 19.10 mm. Weight 2.50 g.
1 CENT / 1989 / CANADA / two maple leaves
ELIZABETH II D G REGINA / Queen's head right

1964 Canadian Dime

KM#132
Coin value - <$1

1 cent (penny) 1991 (1990-1996)
bronze
Diameter 19.10 mm. Weight 2.50 g.
1 CENT / 1991 / CANADA / two maple leaves
ELIZABETH II D G REGINA / Queen's crowned head right
KM#181

1964 Canadian Penny Kg

Coin value - <$1

1 cent (penny) 2001 (1997-2003)
copper plated steel
Diameter 19.05 mm. Weight 2.25 g.
1 CENT / 2001 / CANADA / two maple leaves
ELIZABETH II D G REGINA / Queen's crowned head right
KM#289
Coin value - <$1

1 cent (penny) 2010 (2003-)
copper plated steel
Diameter 19.05 mm. Weight 2.25 g.
1 CENT / 2010 / CANADA / two maple leaves
ELIZABETH II D G REGINA / Queen's head right
KM#490
Coin value - <$1

See also:
Canadian commemorative coins
Canadian commemorative quarters
US dollars
US cents