The US Mint produced copper Lincoln pennies from 1909 to 1942. Their minting has continued to this day, but these pieces have a changed composition. The 1935 Lincoln penny is an affordable but highly collectible piece you can find for less than two cents in low grades.
Thanks to high mintage, the 1935 Penny value is only a few dollars for specimens in the mint state. That makes this lovely coin an excellent option for collectors on a budget and those who want to start with this beautiful hobby.
1935 Lincoln Penny History
The US Mint started producing Lincoln pennies (Wheat penny, Wheaties) in 1909 based on the Victor Brenner design. Then-President Theodore Roosevelt wanted to commemorate the 100th Lincoln birth anniversary with a beautiful coin.
1935 Lincoln penny |
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| Location | Year | Minted |
| Philadelphia | 1935 | 245,388,000 |
| San Francisco | 1935 S | 38,702,000 |
| Denver | 1935 D | 47,000,000 |
| Total | / | 284,090,000 |
You can see a Lincoln image on the obverse with the inscription IN GOD WE TRUST above his head. Behind his back is the word LIBERTY, while the date is in front of the bust.
1935 Lincoln penny |
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| Face value | $0.01 (1 cent) |
| Compound | 95% copper – 5% tin and zinc |
| Coin weight | 0.10970 ounces (3.11 g) |
| Coin thickness | 0.05984Â inches (1.52 mm) |
| Coin diameter | 0.74803Â inches (19 mm) |
| Shape | Round |
| Edge | Plain |
The reverse center is filled with the denomination and the country name, UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, surrounded by two stalks of wheat. The saying E PLURIBUS UNUM is struck along the upper rim.
1935 Lincoln Penny Types
1935 Lincoln penny
With 245,388,000 minted pieces, 1935 Lincoln pennies from the Philadelphia mint are common despite their age. Most low-grade coins will cost you only $0.07 to $0.7. On the other hand, you should set aside about $1 to $10 for a specimen in the mint state.
1935 Lincoln penny value* |
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| Quality | 1935 BN | 1935 RB | 1935 RD |
| Good | $0.07 to $0.08 | / | / |
| Very good | $0.07 to $0.08 | / | / |
| Fine | $0.10 to $0.12 | / | / |
| Very fine | $0.15 to $0.18 | / | / |
| Extra fine | $0.25 to $0.30 | / | / |
| AU | $0.40 to $0.72 | / | / |
| MS 60 | $1 to $1.20 | / | / |
| MS 61 | $2 to $2.40 | / | / |
| MS 62 | $3 to $3.60 | / | / |
| MS 63 | $4 to $4.80 | $8 to $9.60 | / |
| MS 64 | $5 to $6 | $10 to $16.20 | $12 to $14.40 |
| MS 65 | $8 to $9.60 | $15 to $18 | $22 to $26.40 |
| MS 66 | / | / | $40 to $48 |
| MS 67 | / | / | $190 to $230 |
| MS 68 | / | / | $5,000 to $6,000 |
*by Greysheet
Rare pennies with beautiful red color can reach an unbelievable $6,000 on the current coin market. The most expensive 1935 MS 68+ RD Lincoln penny has held the auction record since 2018. That year, one dedicated collector paid $34,075 for it.
1935 proof Lincoln penny value
The 1935 Lincoln penny was the last one in the series without struck proof coins. Since 1936, the US Mint has produced these pieces intended for collectors with only a couple of skipped years.
1935 Lincoln penny value* |
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| Quality | 1935 | 1935 S | 1935 D |
| Good | $0.17 | $0.17 | $0.17 |
| Very good | $0.20 | $0.20 | $0.20 |
| Fine | $0.22 | $0.28 | $0.22 |
| Very fine | $0.28 | $0.56 | $0.28 |
| Extra fine | $0.56 | $2.28 | $0.56 |
| AU | $1.13 | $5.70 | $2.28 |
| MS 60 | $3.30 | $13 | $5.70 |
| MS 65 | $6.64 | $19 | $9.13 |
*by USA Coin book
1935 S Lincoln penny
In 1935, precisely 38,702,000 Lincoln pennies came from the San Francisco mint. After years spent in circulation, most of these coins have a low rating and are pretty inexpensive.
1935 S Lincoln penny value* |
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| Quality | 1935 S BN | 1935 S RB | 1935 S RD |
| Good | $0.10 to $0.12 | / | / |
| Very good | $0.10 to $0.12 | / | / |
| Fine | $0.15 to $0.18 | / | / |
| Very fine | $0.20 to $0.24 | / | / |
| Extra fine | $0.35 to $0.42 | / | / |
| AU | $0.50 to $1.80 | / | / |
| MS 60 | $4 to $4.80 | / | / |
| MS 61 | $5 to $6 | / | / |
| MS 62 | $6 to $7.20 | / | / |
| MS 63 | $8 to $9.60 | / | / |
| MS 64 | $10 to $12 | / | $30 to $36 |
| MS 65 | $20 to $24 | $12 to $14.40 | $60 to $72 |
| MS 66 | / | $20 to $24 | $275 to $325 |
| MS 67 | / | $40 to $48 | $3,500 to $6,000 |
*by Greysheet
A regular penny in a circulated condition typically costs about $0.10 to $2, while those in the mint state can reach $4 to $25. On the other hand, coins with bright red surfaces are costly, and you should set aside up to $6,000 for one with an MS 67 rating.
The most expensive piece from this mint is the 1935 S MS 67 Lincoln penny. One collector paid $23,000 for it in 2007 at auction.
1935 D Lincoln penny value
The Denver mint produced 47,000,000 Lincoln pennies in 1935, making them abundant on the current coin market. You should set aside a modest $0.05 to $0.10 for a piece in low grade, while those with MS 65 rating typically cost less than $13.
1935 D Lincoln penny value* |
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| Quality | 1935 D BN | 1935 D RB | 1935 D RD |
| Good | $0.05 | / | / |
| Very good | $0.05 | / | / |
| Fine | $0.06 | / | / |
| Very fine | $0.06 | / | / |
| Extra fine | $0.07 to $0.08 | / | / |
| AU | $0.08 to $0.09 | / | / |
| MS 60 | $2 to $2.40 | / | / |
| MS 61 | $3 to $3.60 | / | / |
| MS 62 | $4 to $4.80 | / | / |
| MS 63 | $6 to $7.20 | $9 to $10.80 | / |
| MS 64 | $8 to $9.60 | $19 to $22.80 | $20 to $24 |
| MS 65 | $10 to $12.80 | $25 to $30 | $40 to $48 |
| MS 66 | / | / | $45 to $55 |
| MS 67 | / | / | $310 to $400 |
*by Greysheet
Only pieces with a red finish can be more expensive, and their average price is about $300 to $400. The 1935 D MS 67+ RD Lincoln penny was sold for $4,080 in 2018, winning the auction record.
1935 Lincoln Penny Rarities
You can find numerous 1935 Lincoln penny errors, including:
Doubled dies
This coin occurs after the hub struck the die at two different angles. For instance, the 1935 doubled die Lincoln penny typically shows a doubling in Lincoln’s eye and inscriptions on the obverse.
The 1935 D doubled die Lincoln penny has a significant doubling in E PLURIBUS UNUM struck on the coin reverse. On the other hand, there is only one 1935 S doubled die Lincoln penny. It has a doubling on the wheat ears and inscriptions on the coin reverse.
You can’t find many of these errors on the marketplace, but their price is estimated to be $50 to $100.
Off-center strike
This error appears when the planchet is not correctly centered, or the die is incorrectly aligned. The cheapest are coins with a typical error under 3%. Those with a 50% off-center with the visible date can reach $50 to $100.
Die breaks
When an old cracked die strikes a coin, you can see traces left on the penny’s surface. As expected, pieces with drastic die breaks will be more expensive. So, you should pay $3 to $100, depending on its significance.
BIE Liberty error
BIE error is a small vertical die crack resembling a letter I in the word LIBERTY on the coin obverse. It is typically struck between the B and E letters. Most coins with this imperfection cost $5 to $15.
Clipped planchets
When the cutting machine miss-cuts a blank planchet, it can be left without a piece on edge. That will result in a penny with a curved cut on the rim. Most clipped planchet errors’ price is $10.
1935 Lincoln Penny Grading
Uncirculated – This 1935 Lincoln penny doesn’t show any flaws, so it typically looks the same as the day it was minted. You can sometimes notice faded color due to age, but that is expected. All delicate details still exist, making this coin highly desirable among collectors.
1935 Lincoln penny value* |
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| Year | Quality | |||
| Good | Fine | Extra fine | Uncirculated | |
| 1935 | $0.15 | $0.20 | $0.50 | $1 |
| 1935 S | $0.15 | $0.25 | $2 | $5 |
| 1935 D | $0.15 | $0.20 | $0.50 | $2 |
*by JM Bullion
Extra fine – Such a coin sometimes has minor imperfections barely visible to the naked eye. Only close inspection, preferably with a magnifying glass, shows a few slight scratches on the surface that occurred during a short stay in circulation.
Fine – The first signs of wear appear on an ear of wheat, followed by flattening of high areas and merging of Lincoln’s ear and hair. Despite spending a long time in use, the date and letters in inscriptions are legible, and the portrait is still well-defined.
1935 Lincoln penny value* |
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| Year | Quality | |||
| Good | Fine | Extra fine | Uncirculated | |
| 1935 | $0.04 | $0.04 | $0.05 | $7 |
| 1935 S | $0.04 | $0.04 | $0.21 | $16 |
| 1935 D | $0.04 | $0.04 | $0.20 | $8 |
*by CoinStudy
Good – This 1935 Lincoln penny spent years in circulation, leaving numerous traces on its surface. The image on the obverse is an outline, some details missing, and the coin is scratched and sometimes heavily damaged. However, some collectors will appreciate such a piece when the date and legends are legible.
Summary
Many collectors like the Lincoln penny series since these beautiful coins represent significant pieces of American history. The best of all is that you can get it for a moderate sum of money.
Even though the 1935 Lincoln penny is inexpensive in all grades, it is an excellent option for newbies and coin lovers with a limited budget.
