1968 Penny Value: D, S, No Mint Mark and Proof Identification

In this article

Quick answer

An ordinary worn 1968 penny is a common Lincoln Memorial cent with a one-cent face value. No mint mark is normal for Philadelphia; D identifies Denver. San Francisco made both regular-strike and Proof cents with S, so that letter alone does not identify the finish.

The PCGS retail guide checked October 22, 2026 lists 1968-D Red coins at $6 in Mint State 63, $14 in Mint State 65 and $20 in Mint State 66. Mint State (MS) means uncirculated, and Red (RD) is a copper-color designation. These estimates apply to Denver regular strikes meeting those conditions, not every bright or worn 1968 penny.

Coin photos

1968-D Lincoln cent obverse: find the D below the date.

Same 1968-D Memorial reverse: compare building detail and the complete rim.

Basics & coin story

The 1968 issue marks the return of mint marks after their omission on 1965–1967 coins. The Mint’s January 4, 1968 announcement also displayed a San Francisco Proof set. That restored letter is useful information, but its meaning still depends on the denomination and manufacturing category.

PCGS records 2,886,269,600 Denver regular cents and 258,270,001 San Francisco regular cents. The Memorial reverse by Frank Gasparro accompanies Victor David Brenner’s Lincoln portrait. The year therefore belongs to the copper-alloy Memorial series, rather than the earlier wheat design or the later copper-plated zinc cent. The 1969 penny guide covers the following date separately.

Identification at a glance
Feature	What to check
Type / denomination	Lincoln Memorial cent / 1 cent
Metal	95% copper, 5% zinc
Nominal weight / diameter	3.11 g / 19 mm
Edge	Plain
Regular marks	No letter: Philadelphia; D: Denver; S: San Francisco
Proof issue	San Francisco, also marked S
Mint-mark location	Obverse, below 1968

Identification

Use the date before applying a no-mark rule

A Philadelphia 1968 cent normally lacks a letter. Denver and San Francisco regular strikes carry D and S. Do not describe the no-mark cent as an omission error simply because mint marks returned that year; Philadelphia’s regular convention was still to leave this cent unmarked.

An S cent can be a regular strike or a Proof

A 1968-S regular strike and a 1968-S Proof are different issues. Proof describes a collector manufacturing method, not just a shiny surface. Original set context, field texture, detail and expert examination are more useful than the letter by itself. A polished circulation coin does not become a Proof.

Attribute a repunched mint mark or doubled die precisely

PCGS lists a Denver repunched-mint-mark attribution, FS-501, and a doubled-die-reverse attribution, FS-801. Those are specific entries, not names for every thick D or blurred Memorial. Match the relevant die diagnostics and location. Scratches, reflected light and mechanical doubling do not establish either variety. Photograph the feature before seeking an attribution.

Condition & value

Amounts are in U.S. dollars. PCGS retail-guide examples were checked October 22, 2026 and apply only to the stated issue, grade and designation. They are not guaranteed purchase offers; current market conditions and selling costs can change the amount received.

Value comparisons: match the issue before using a price
Issue	Grade / condition	Value or reference	Basis	Important condition
Ordinary worn regular strike	Circulated	1¢ face-value baseline	Denomination	No automatic premium for the date
1968-D, RD	MS63	$6	PCGS retail guide	Denver regular strike, original Red
1968-D, RD	MS65	$14	PCGS retail guide	Problem-free uncirculated example
1968-D, RD	MS66	$20	PCGS retail guide	Correct grade and color required
Philadelphia / S regular / S Proof	Exact issue and grade	Use matching entry	Separate comparisons	Do not substitute Denver prices
Attributed RPM or DDR	Exact variety and condition	Variety-specific evidence	Attribution required	No premium based on blurred lettering

Inspect Lincoln’s cheek and jaw for friction, then look for contact marks, spots and hairlines in the fields. Weakly defined detail can reflect the strike or dies rather than circulation, so sharpness alone should not determine Mint State status. A genuine uncirculated coin can still have marks from handling and storage.

Brown (BN), Red and Brown (RB), and Red are separate copper-color categories. A brown cent cannot be priced from a Red row simply because it has the same numerical grade. Color in a phone photograph can also shift with lighting. Use the grading guide and the penny value-checking workflow before assigning a grade or paying for certification.

Summary

Read no mark, D or S, then identify regular strike versus Proof before choosing a price. The special trap for 1968 is treating every S cent as a Proof. Match original color and numerical grade, and investigate alleged Denver varieties through exact diagnostics rather than an unusual-looking letter.

FAQ

Is a 1968 penny with no mint mark an error?

No. Philadelphia normally issued the 1968 cent without a letter. Its absence alone does not establish rarity or an error.

Is every 1968-S penny a Proof?

No. San Francisco produced both regular-strike and Proof cents with S. The manufacturing category must be identified separately.

How much is a 1968-D penny worth?

An ordinary worn coin has a one-cent face value. PCGS Red regular-strike guide examples checked October 22, 2026 were $6 at MS63, $14 at MS65 and $20 at MS66; these conditions must match.

Does a thick D prove a 1968-D repunched mint mark?

No. A recognized repunched-mint-mark variety requires matching diagnostics. Damage, mechanical effects and blurred photographs are insufficient.

References

References and further reading

Sources and quoted guide evidence checked October 22, 2026. Guide estimates, historical sales, face value and metal-content calculations are identified separately.