Coin Value Contents Table
1974 Penny Value By Variety1974 Penny Value ChartHistory of The 1974 PennyIs Your 1974 Penny Rare?Key Features of The 1974 Penny1974 Penny Mintage & Survival Data1974 Penny Mintage & Survival Chart1974 Penny Grading1974 Penny Value Guides1974 No Mint Mark Penny Value1974-D Penny Value1974-S Penny Value1974-S CAM Penny Value1974-S DCAM Penny ValueRare 1974 Penny Error ListTop 10 Most Valuable 1974 Penny Worth MoneyWhere To Sell Your 1974 Penny?1974 Penny Market TrendFAQ About The 1974 PennyCoin collecting interest has surged significantly in recent years.
The 1974 penny holds a fascinating place in numismatic history, particularly due to experimental aluminum versions that were never released to circulation but can theoretically be worth up to $2 million.
With the coin collecting market projected to grow at approximately 8.08% annually through 2032, understanding which 1974 pennies he value beyond their copper content has become increasingly important for both casual collectors and serious investors.
Most 1974 pennies are common circulation coins worth only face value, but certain varieties, high-grade examples, and error coins can command significant premiums.
The key lies in knowing what to look for and understanding the grading factors that separate valuable specimens from ordinary pocket change.
1974 Penny Value By Variety
The value chart reveals the big range of 1974 penny values. If you know the grade of your coin, you can find the exact price below in the Value Guides section.
1974 Penny Value ChartTYPEGOODFINEAUMSPR1974 No Mint Mark Penny Value (RD)$0.28$0.96$2.46$10.41—1974 D Penny Value (RD)$0.19$0.64$1.64$8.71—1974 S Penny Value (RD)$0.28$0.96$2.46$18.07—1974 S CAM Penny Value————$8.251974 S DCAM Penny Value————$11.00Updated: 2025-09-12 05:49:19Also Read: Top 100 Most Valuable Modern Pennies Worth Money (1959 – Present)
History of The 1974 Penny
The 1974 penny emerged during one of the most turbulent periods in American history, both economically and politically.
As the Watergate scandal unfolded and President Nixon faced impeachment proceedings, the U.S. Mint was quietly grappling with its own crisis—soaring copper prices that made penny production increasingly expensive. By 1973, the cost of copper had risen so dramatically that producing a penny nearly equaled its face value.
This economic pressure forced mint officials to explore radical alternatives, leading to one of the most controversial experiments in American coinage history. The mint began testing aluminum as a potential replacement metal, along with bronze-clad steel alternatives.
In 1974, approximately 1.57 million aluminum pennies were secretly produced at Philadelphia and Denver facilities. These experimental coins featured the same Lincoln Memorial design but were composed of an aluminum alloy that was lighter, more corrosion-resistant, and significantly cheaper than copper.
To gain congressional support, mint officials distributed samples to members of the House Banking Committee and Senate Banking Committee.
However, the aluminum penny experiment quickly encountered fierce opposition. Vending machine manufacturers refused to modify their equipment, pediatricians warned about X-ray detection issues if children swallowed the coins, and the copper industry lobbied against the change.
By late 1974, the program was abandoned, and officials began recalling the distributed samples—though some specimens mysteriously survived, creating today’s legendary rarities.
Also Read: Top 100 Rarest Pennies Worth Money (1787 – Present)
Is Your 1974 Penny Rare? 101974 No Mint Mark Penny (RD)CommonRanked 973 in Lincoln Cent (Modern)101974-D Penny (RD)CommonRanked 979 in Lincoln Cent (Modern)101974-S Penny (RD)CommonRanked 1029 in Lincoln Cent (Modern)111974-S CAM PennyCommonRanked 913 in Lincoln Cent (Modern)101974-S DCAM PennyCommonRanked 959 in Lincoln Cent (Modern)
To verify your coin’s specific condition and check for any valuable error varieties that might increase its worth, try our CoinValueChecker App for detailed authentication and current market pricing.
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Key Features of The 1974 Penny
The 1974 Lincoln penny represents the final years of the traditional bronze composition before the mint’s transition to zinc-core pennies, featuring the classic Lincoln Memorial design that defined an era of American coinage.
The Obverse Of The 1974 Penny
The obverse of the 1974 penny displays the familiar right-facing portrait of President Abraham Lincoln, a design that has remained largely unchanged since 1909. Created by Victor Did Brenner and based on a Matthew Brady photograph, this iconic profile continues to grace American pennies today.
The word “LIBERTY” appears along the left side of the coin, while the date “1974” is positioned on the right. Above Lincoln’s head, you’ll find the motto “IN GOD WE TRUST” inscribed in capital letters.
For Denver-minted coins, a small “D” mint mark appears just below the date on the obverse. Philadelphia-minted pennies carry no mint mark, following the mint’s traditional practice.
The Reverse Of The 1974 Penny
The reverse features the Lincoln Memorial, introduced in 1959 to commemorate the 150th anniversary of Lincoln’s birth. This detailed architectural rendering replaced the wheat stalks that had appeared on pennies from 1909 to 1958.
“UNITED STATES OF AMERICA” curves along the top edge, while “ONE CENT” appears at the bottom. The Latin motto “E PLURIBUS UNUM” is inscribed on two lines above the memorial building, translating to “From many, one.”
Other Features Of The 1974 PennyThe 1974 penny maintains the traditional bronze composition of 95% copper and 5% zinc, giving it the characteristic reddish-brown color of copper coins. This composition was standard from 1962 onward, when tin was removed from the alloy to simplify manufacturing.
Each coin weighs 3.11 grams with a diameter of 19 millimeters. The high copper content means color preservation varies significantly based on handling and storage conditions. Coins graded as “red” retain over 95% of their original copper luster, while “brown” examples show significant toning. “Red and brown” coins fall somewhere between these extremes.
Also Read: 100 Most Valuable Wheat Pennies Worth Money (1909 to 1958)
1974 Penny Mintage & Survival Data 1974 Penny Mintage & Survival ChartMintage ComparisonSurvival DistributionTypeMintageSurvivalSurvival RateNo Mint4,232,140,523634,821,07815%D4,235,098,000635,264,70015%S412,039,22861,805,88415%S CAM2,612,568unknownunknownS DCAM2,612,5682,220,68285%
The 1974 penny mintage and survival data shows clear variations between mint locations and coin types. Philadelphia minted 4.232 billion pennies while Denver produced 4.235 billion, with both facilities achieving identical 15% survival rates. This translates to approximately 635 million surviving coins from each mint currently in circulation.
San Francisco struck 412 million regular pennies, also maintaining a 15% survival rate that left 61.8 million examples intact. The San Francisco DCAM (Deep Cameo) proof represents a stark contrast – from an original mintage of 2.6 million pieces, an remarkable 85% survival rate preserved 2.2 million specimens.
The data reveals how proof quality and collector demand affect coin preservation over time. Regular circulation strikes consistently show 15% survival across all mints, while premium proof coins demonstrate substantially higher retention rates.
Also Read: 100 Most Valuable Indian Head Penny Coins Worth Money (1859 – 1909)
1974 Penny Grading
Grading 1974 pennies correctly is essential for determining their market value, especially since most examples remain common unless they achieve mint state preservation. The key lies in understanding how Lincoln Memorial cents show wear and what separates valuable high-grade specimens from ordinary circulated coins.
For circulated 1974 pennies, examine Lincoln’s hair detail and cheek area for wear patterns, along with the Memorial’s columns and steps on the reverse. Good condition coins show significant detail loss, while Fine grades retain basic design elements. About Uncirculated examples display only slight wear on high points with most original luster intact.
Mint State coins require careful assessment of contact marks, surface quality, and strike sharpness. The jump from AU to MS can mean the difference between face value and hundreds of dollars for premium examples. Red designation (indicating retained copper color) adds significant value over Red-Brown or Brown classifications.
For quick grade assessment of any Lincoln cent you’re evaluating, our CoinValueChecker App provides instant estimates alongside current values.
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1974 Penny Value Guides
The 1974 penny series encompasses five distinct varieties that range from common circulation coins to some of the most valuable and controversial pennies in American history.
The business strike versions from Philadelphia, Denver, and San Francisco represent massive mintages exceeding 4 billion coins each. However, the experimental aluminum varieties tell a completely different story—these were never officially released and remain technically illegal to own as government property.
The San Francisco proof coins showcase the mint’s special collector editions, with CAM and DCAM designations reflecting the quality of contrast between frosted devices and mirror fields. Understanding these varieties is crucial since values span from face value for worn examples to potentially millions for the legendary aluminum specimens.
1974 Penny Types:
1974 No Mint Mark (Philadelphia Mint) 1974-D (Denver Mint) 1974-S (San Francisco Mint) 1974-S CAM (San Francisco Cameo Proof) 1974-S DCAM (San Francisco Deep Cameo Proof)1974 No Mint Mark Penny Value
The 1974 No Mint Mark Penny from Philadelphia stands out despite its massive mintage of over 4.2 billion coins.
What makes this variety special is the dramatic value difference based on preservation and color designation. While most circulated examples remain at face value, mint state specimens can reach impressive heights—particularly those retaining their original red copper color.
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Scan NowThe color grading system reveals significant value gaps between designations.
According to auction records, a 1974 No Mint Mark penny in MS67+RD condition achieved $2,938 in 2013, establishing the auction record for this variety. Red-Brown (RB) and Brown (BN) examples typically command lower premiums, though specific auction data for these color grades remains limited in ailable records.
And examples up to MS66 are very common, with only MS67 or higher grades becoming scarce. This scarcity in top grades explains the dramatic price jumps seen in the grade-value chart.
1974 No Mint Mark Penny (RD) Price/Grade ChartPrice by 1-70 Grade (Latest Auction Records Included)
Updated: 2025-09-12 05:49:20Recent auction records confirm consistent collector interest in premium examples.
Date ↓PlatformPrice ⇅Grade ⇅Market activity provides a more intuitive understanding of how this coin is performing in today’s market.
Market activity: 1974 No Mint Mark Penny 1974 Aluminum Penny Value
The value of the 1974 Aluminum Penny is a subject of considerable debate in U.S. numismatic history. Created as an experimental solution to rising copper costs, approximately 1.57 million aluminum pennies were struck but never officially released to circulation.
What makes this coin extraordinary is its unique composition—lightweight aluminum alloy that weighs significantly less than traditional copper pennies and produces a distinctive high-pitched sound when dropped.
The legal status adds another layer of intrigue. These coins remain technically government property, making private ownership legally questionable despite their astronomical estimated values reaching $160,000 for pristine examples. Only a handful of specimens are known to exist outside government control, creating legendary rarity that captivates collectors worldwide.
Current market activity surrounding aluminum pennies generates intense fascination among collectors and legal experts alike.
Market activity: 1974 Aluminum Penny1974-D Penny Value
The 1974-D Penny from Denver represents one of the most dramatic value escalations in modern Lincoln cent collecting, despite its massive mintage of over 4.2 billion coins.
What sets this variety apart is the extreme scarcity in top grades—while examples through MS66 remain common, MS67 and higher grades become genuinely rare and command substantial premiums.
The color designation significantly impacts value across all mint state grades. Red (RD) examples maintaining their original copper luster command the highest prices, while Red-Brown (RB) and Brown (BN) specimens typically sell for considerably less.
In Mint State grades, the 1974-D Lincoln Cent is plentiful through MS66, increasingly scarce at MS67, and genuinely rare in MS68 or higher.
1974-D Penny (RD) Price/Grade ChartPrice by 1-70 Grade (Latest Auction Records Included)
Updated: 2025-09-12 05:49:20Auction records reveal the actual collector demand for 1974 penny varieties.
Date ↓PlatformPrice ⇅Grade ⇅Here’s a chart to help you get a clear understanding of 1974-D penny market activity.
Market activity: 1974-D Penny 1974-D Aluminum Penny Value
The 1974-D Aluminum Penny represents the most famous and controversial coin in the entire aluminum penny saga. Unlike its Philadelphia counterpart, this Denver-minted specimen gained worldwide notoriety through a highly publicized legal battle that captivated the numismatic community.
The coin’s story involves Randy Lawrence, whose father worked as a deputy superintendent at the U.S. Mint, and a planned 2014 auction that was dramatically halted by government intervention.
What makes this particular aluminum penny extraordinary is its documented provenance and the legal precedent it established.
Originally estimated to sell for $250,000, the coin’s value potentially reached $2 million before the U.S. government successfully reclaimed it through federal court proceedings. The case demonstrated the government’s determination to recover all aluminum penny specimens, regardless of how they were originally obtained.
This specific coin now resides in the U.S. Bullion Depository, serving as a reminder of one of the most ambitious—and ultimately failed—experiments in American coinage history.
Market activity below for the 1974-D Aluminum Penny shows sustained collector interest throughout the past year.
Market activity: 1974-D Aluminum Penny1974-S Penny Value
The 1974-S penny represents San Francisco’s final business strike production with a mintage of 412,039,228—significantly lower than Philadelphia’s 4.2 billion and Denver’s 4.2 billion that same year.
Unlike most Memorial cents where MS66+ populations exceed 300 specimens, the 1974-S shows remarkable scarcity with fewer than 200 examples certified at MS66 or higher by PCGS.
This population data reveals a key market inefficiency: despite being genuinely scarcer in premium grades than widely recognized “tough dates,” the 1974-S trades at substantial discounts.
Color designation affects pricing across Brown (BN), Red-Brown (RB), and Red (RD) varieties, though the real value driver is the coin’s exceptional rarity in premium grades. Auctions records show a 1974-S MS67RD achieving $2,703 in 2016, demonstrating the strong performance potential when exceptional preservation meets historical significance.
1974-S Penny (RD) Price/Grade ChartPrice by 1-70 Grade (Latest Auction Records Included)
Updated: 2025-09-12 05:49:20Auction records show the consistent performance of premium San Francisco examples across major sales venues.
Date ↓PlatformPrice ⇅Grade ⇅Ongoing market activity shows steady collector interest, with consistent engagement levels throughout the past year.
Market activity: 1974-S Penny Penny1974-S CAM Penny Value
The 1974-S CAM penny represents the proof Lincoln cent with cameo contrast struck at San Francisco. From a total mintage of 2,612,568 proof coins, the CAM designation applies only to specimens exhibiting frosted design elements against deeply mirrored fields.
This cameo effect results from special die preparation and optimal striking conditions that weren’t achieved on every proof coin, making CAM specimens notably scarcer than regular proofs.
The “S” mint mark appears beneath the date, identifying San Francisco’s proof production. Unlike Deep Cameo specimens, CAM examples show moderate contrast between the frosted Lincoln portrait and mirror-like background fields. The coin maintains the standard bronze composition of 95% copper and 5% zinc.
1974-S CAM Penny Price/Grade ChartPrice by 1-70 Grade (Latest Auction Records Included)
Updated: 2025-09-12 05:49:20Here is the auction records about this variety.
Date ↓PlatformPrice ⇅Grade ⇅Market activity in cameo proof pennies continues to reflect their appeal due to low price and unique appearance.
Market activity: 1974-S CAM Penny1974-S DCAM Penny Value
Unlike earlier San Francisco deep cameo proofs that suffered from inconsistent die preparation, the 1974-S achieved remarkable uniformity across its 2,612,568-piece mintage.
Professional grading services report examples remain “easy to obtain in grades up to about PR68 Deep Cameo,” with PR69 specimens ailable at reasonable market prices—a stark contrast to the premium pricing commanded by 1968-1972 deep cameo proofs of comparable grades.
By 1974, San Francisco had perfected its proof production methodology, eliminating the hit-or-miss frosting quality that plagued earlier years. This technical advancement created a large population of consistently high-quality deep cameo examples, fundamentally altering the supply dynamics for collectors.
The price chart demonstrates how DCAM pennies maintain stable values through most proof grades before climbing to premium levels in the highest preservation categories.
1974-S DCAM Penny Price/Grade ChartPrice by 1-70 Grade (Latest Auction Records Included)
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Scan Now Updated: 2025-09-12 05:49:20The following records illustrate how coins of different grades are valued.
Date ↓PlatformPrice ⇅Grade ⇅The market activity comes into sharper focus when viewed through the chart that follows.
Market activity: 1974-S DCAM PennyAlso Read: Top 100 Most Valuable Modern Pennies Worth Money (1959 – Present)
Rare 1974 Penny Error List
Finding error coins is quite thrilling and with every noticeable error, the numismatic value of the coin increases. The 1974 Lincoln penny is no different. Here we’ll examine the errors you might find in varieties of this coin.
1. 1974 Penny Double Die ErrorsDouble die errors lee a doubling effect on the features of the 1974 Lincoln Penny. On the obverse of Denver Mint coins, they are visible on the D-mint mark, Lincoln’s nose, the year of production, and the legends. On the reverse of the 1974 Lincoln penny, you’ll also notice the doubling effect on the pillars and stairs of the Lincoln memorial image.
Double-die errors are valued at $25. However, this value is subject to the coin’s grade.
2. 1974 Penny Double Head ErrorsThe double head error occurred because the coins were counter-stamped after minting, creating, and leing two Lincoln heads on the coin’s obverse. Although this error is much sought after, it has little to no numismatic value
3. 1974-S Penny With A Die Break ErrorsThere is an S-mint mark 1974 penny with a visible die break error on its obverse. Although this usually occurs due to damage from circulation, there are times when it could be the Mint’s fault. In situations like this, you will find the missing piece on the obverse or reverse of the coin. Since this error is rare, finding one in pristine condition can be valued as high as $184.
Also Read: 26 Rare Modern Lincoln Penny Errors Worth Money (Full List with Pictures)
Top 10 Most Valuable 1974 Penny Worth Money Most Valuable 1974 Penny Chart
2003 - Present
The most valuable 1974 pennies reveal how condition and mint location create dramatic value differences in what many consider “common” coins.
Business strikes dominate the rankings, with the 1974-S RD 67 leading at $999, followed closely by the Philadelphia no mint mark version at $800. The Denver mint shows strong representation with multiple entries, including a 1974-D RD 67 at $477.
What’s particularly interesting is how proof varieties appear throughout the list rather than dominating it entirely.
The 1974-S DCAM examples demonstrate that even deep cameo proofs can be accessible, with specimens ranging from $37 to $94 depending on grade. This accessibility makes 1974 an attractive entry point for collectors interested in proof pennies without the extreme premiums of earlier years.
The data spans over two decades of auction results, showing consistent collector demand for high-grade examples across all varieties. The clear grade progression—where single point improvements can mean hundreds of dollars in additional value—emphasizes why proper assessment and preservation matter so much.
Where To Sell Your 1974 Penny?
Whether you’re looking to sell a common 1974 penny or one of the rare high-grade specimens, choosing the right marketplace and understanding current demand can make all the difference in your final return.
Check out now: Best Places To Sell Coins Online (Pros & Cons)
1974 Penny Market Trend Market Interest Trend Chart - 1974 Penny
*Market Trend Chart showing the number of people paying attention to this coin.
FAQ About The 1974 Penny 1. What is the oldest penny ever?
The oldest penny ever was the one cent struck in 1793, one year after the mint was established. Although this penny was challenging to use because of its large size, it was not replaced until 1857.
2. Is it legal to damage pennies?Damaging pennies or any other United States coin or currency is illegal. Anyone who does this is liable to a fine or Prison time. This also includes altering, defacing, diminishing, falsifying, mutilating, lightening, impairing, and scaling a coin.
3. How much are 1974 pennies worth?Regular 1974 pennies are only worth a little, especially if they fall below the uncirculated grade.
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