1910 Penny Coin Value: Errors List, “S” & No Mint Mark Worth

1910 Penny value ranges from $0.01 face value to $52,875. That record was set by a Grade 67 Proof example sold through Legend Rare Coin Auctions in December 2019. Upload a photo of yours below and we’ll give you a quick value range. You can also scroll down to check recent eBay sales and see what buyers are paying today.

 

1910 Penny Value By Variety

Condition and mint mark make all the difference with 1910 pennies. The value breakdown below shows just how wide the spread can be.

If you know the grade of your coin, you can find the exact price below in the Value Guides section.

Also Read: Top 100 Most Valuable Modern Pennies Worth Money (1959 – Present)

 

Top 10 Most Valuable 1910 Penny Worth Money

The coin sitting at the top of this list is a 1910 PR67+RD matte proof that brought $52,875. Fully red matte proofs from this era almost never survive — most have toned down to brown or red-brown over 100+ years. When one surfaces with original color at a near-perfect grade, registry set collectors fight over it. That’s what happened here.

The 1910-S isn’t far behind at $48,000 in MS67+RD, a coin PCGS has certified exactly once at that level. A single-pop top-grade coin from a semi-key date? That price makes sense. The 1910-S/S RPM FS-502 variety rounds out the heavy hitters at $19,200 in MS67RD, sold by Heritage Auctions in October 2018.

Also Read: Lincoln Wheat Penny Value (1909-1958)

 

History of the 1910 Penny

The 1910 Lincoln cent was the first one struck for a full calendar year. The 1909 series launched mid-year, so 1910 was when the Mint really dialed in its production process. Philadelphia cranked out 146,801,218 pieces — nearly 50% more than the previous year — a sign of just how popular Lincoln’s face on a penny had become.

San Francisco added 6,045,000 coins. Denver didn’t strike Lincoln cents until 1911. That lopsided output is exactly why the 1910-S carries a semi-key premium today at both PCGS and NGC.

Here’s a detail most people miss: the 1910 proofs are **matte proofs**. They don’t have mirror surfaces. The Mint sandblasted the dies before striking, giving the coins a dull, granular texture with razor-sharp device edges. This technique, borrowed from European mints, was used on Lincoln cents from 1909 through 1916. They look nothing like the brilliant proofs you’re used to seeing.

Victor David Brenner designed the coin after being introduced to Theodore Roosevelt through a White House portrait session. Roosevelt wanted to beautify American coinage, and Brenner got the job. By 1910, the design had already survived the VDB controversy — those initials were yanked off the reverse after public backlash in 1909 — and the Lincoln cent was firmly established as America’s workhorse coin.

Also Read: Top 100 Rarest Pennies Worth Money (1787 – Present)

 

Is Your 1910 Penny Rare?

For detailed rarity assessments of your specific 1910 penny varieties, you can check their individual scarcity ratings using our Coin Identifier and Value App.

 

Key Features of the 1910 Penny

The 1910 penny was the first Lincoln cent produced for an entire year. Knowing what to look for on both sides helps you spot genuine examples and separate them from later dates quickly.

The Obverse of the 1910 Penny

Flip the coin to the heads side and you’ll see Abraham Lincoln’s right-facing profile — the first real person ever featured on a U.S. circulating coin. Victor David Brenner sculpted the portrait from a plaster cast based on a Mathew Brady photograph of Lincoln taken in 1864.

Look closely at Lincoln’s hair above the ear and along the jawline. Those are the exact spots graders zero in on when judging strike quality. Sharp strands there mean a strong strike.

“IN GOD WE TRUST” arcs across the top rim. “LIBERTY” sits to Lincoln’s left, and the date appears to his right. San Francisco coins carry a small “S” right below the date. Philadelphia coins have no mint mark — standard practice for the main mint back then.

The Reverse of the 1910 Penny

Flip it over. Two ears of durum wheat frame the central text — that’s where the “wheat penny” nickname comes from. Brenner designed this side too. It stayed in use from 1909 through 1958, when the Lincoln Memorial replaced it.

“ONE CENT” dominates the center in bold letters. “UNITED STATES OF AMERICA” appears below in smaller type. “E PLURIBUS UNUM” curves along the upper rim.

On a well-struck coin, look for crisp, fully defined kernel lines on the wheat stalks. Mushy or flat wheat detail means a weak strike, and that hurts desirability even at the same numerical grade.

Other Features of the 1910 Penny

The 1910 penny is 95% copper with 5% tin and zinc — the standard bronze alloy used through 1942. It weighs 3.11 grams, measures 19 millimeters across, and is 1.52 millimeters thick with a plain edge.

All that copper means color changes dramatically over time. PCGS and NGC assign three color designations: RD (Red), RB (Red-Brown), and BN (Brown). Each has its own price tier. An RD coin can easily bring five to ten times what the same grade in BN sells for. The color difference is huge.

Also Read: 100 Most Valuable Wheat Pennies Worth Money (1909 to 1958)

 

1910 Penny Mintage & Survival Data

Philadelphia struck nearly 147 million coins, but only about 4,000 survive in collectible condition. That’s a survival rate of 0.0027% — roughly 1 out of every 37,000 coins made. Gone. Melted, lost, or worn smooth.

San Francisco’s 6,045,000 mintage fared slightly better at about 0.0496%, with around 3,000 collectible pieces remaining. PCGS shows fewer than 15 examples graded MS66 or above in RD.

The proofs tell a different story. About 250 of the original 2,405 pieces survive — a 10.4% survival rate. Collectors saved these from day one. But don’t let that fool you: finding one with full original red color is still brutally hard. PCGS populations at PR66RD and above sit in single digits.

Here’s the counterintuitive part: low mintage doesn’t always mean hard to find. The proof’s survival rate crushes both circulation strikes despite having the smallest original production by far. Condition and color preservation are what really drive scarcity for 1910 pennies.

Also Read: 100 Most Valuable Indian Head Penny Coins Worth Money (1859 – 1909)

 

The Easy Way to Know Your 1910 Penny Value

Grading a 1910 penny comes down to two things: physical condition and color. They’re independent of each other, and together they set the grade.

For condition, check Lincoln’s hair above the ear first — that’s where wear shows up earliest. Then look at the cheekbone, jawline, and the wheat stalks on the reverse. On a Mint State coin (one that never circulated), every hair strand should be crisp and the wheat kernels fully defined.

For color, the grading services use three designations: RD (Red) means the coin retains 85% or more of its original bright copper color. RB (Red-Brown) means the coin shows at least 15–85% red coloration mixed with brown toning. BN (Brown) means the coin has lost most of its original red and now shows primarily brown or dark toning. An RD-designated coin can be worth five to ten times more than the same coin in BN designation at identical grades — the difference is enormous.

For precise grade assessment of your 1910 penny, you can quickly check its condition using our Coin Identifier and Value App.

 

1910 Penny Value Guides

Three varieties were struck in 1910:

• 1910 No Mint Mark Penny — Philadelphia Mint, circulation strike production
• 1910-S Penny — San Francisco Mint, semi-key circulation strike
• 1910 Proof Penny — Philadelphia Mint, matte proof collector production

Philadelphia handled the bulk of circulation strikes, San Francisco contributed a much scarcer batch, and Philadelphia also produced a tiny run of matte proofs sold directly to collectors.

Also Read: Value Of Old Pennies By Year (1959-Present)

 

1910 No Mint Mark Penny Value

Nearly 147 million struck, yet fewer than 20 have been slabbed MS67RD or above by PCGS and NGC combined. That’s a textbook condition rarity — common coin, impossible grade.

The color spread tells the story. A BN example in MS66 brought $1,234 at a 2017 Heritage sale. Step up to RB and an MS65 hit $2,530 in 2010. Now jump to full red: an MS67+RD sold for $10,869 at Heritage Auctions in 2018. Same basic coin, same era — but color preservation multiplied the value nearly nine times over.

If you’ve got a Philly 1910 with blazing original red luster, you’re sitting on something special. Most of these have long since toned to brown.

Full auction record data for this Philadelphia variety is below.

Current market activity for the 1910 No Mint Mark penny:

Market activity score: 64/100 as of Oct 2026 — up 9 points from Jul 2026. 12-month peak: 73 (Aug 2026).

 

1910-S Penny Value

How rare is the top-grade 1910-S? PCGS has certified exactly one coin at MS67+RD. One. It sold for $48,000 at Heritage Auctions in January 2025. When you’re bidding on a single-pop coin from a semi-key date, that’s what happens.

San Francisco struck just 6,045,000 pieces — roughly 1 coin for every 24 Philadelphia made. Add a century of circulation losses and the near-impossibility of keeping original red color intact, and you’ve got a coin that gets genuinely scarce in a hurry as grades climb.

The BN variety brought $1,200 for an MS66BN in 2021. RB reached $1,100 for an MS67 back in 1996. And that lone MS67+RD topped everything at $48,000. I think the 1910-S remains underappreciated in circulated grades — you can still find VG to EF examples for $15–$80, which feels like a bargain for a recognized semi-key.

Complete auction history for this San Francisco issue:

Market activity for the 1910-S penny:

Market activity score: 69/100 as of Oct 2026 — up 29 points from Jul 2026. Currently at its 12-month peak.

 

1910 Proof Penny Value

Don’t confuse these with later brilliant proofs. The 1910 proof is a **matte proof** — sandblasted dies gave these coins a dull, satiny, granular surface with incredibly sharp device edges. Only 2,405 were struck at Philadelphia and sold directly to collectors at a small premium over face value.

Collectors recognized their significance from the start, which is why survival rates are far better than circulation strikes. But keeping full original red color for 100+ years? That’s a completely different challenge. Most survivors have toned down.

The price gap between color designations is staggering. BN brought $9,000 for a PR67BN at Heritage Auctions in January 2024. RB hit $7,638 for a PR67RB in 2014. And the king of the hill — a PR67+RD — sold for $52,875 at Heritage Auctions in December 2019. We think that coin represents one of the best values in the entire wheat cent proof series for what you get: an ultra-rare, fully red, top-pop matte proof from the second year of the Lincoln cent.

Full auction history for these early proof Lincoln cents:

Market activity for the 1910 Proof penny:

Market activity score: 62/100 as of Oct 2026 — up 19 points from Jul 2026. 12-month peak: 67 (Sep 2026).

Also Read: Top 100 Most Valuable Modern Pennies Worth Money (1959 – Present)

 

Rare 1910 Penny Error List

Both mints generally delivered sharp strikes in 1910, but a few collectible errors slipped through. The big ones are repunched mintmarks (RPMs) from San Francisco, catalogued in the *Cherrypickers’ Guide to Rare Die Varieties* by Bill Fivaz and J.T. Stanton. These are the varieties cherrypickers dream about finding in a dealer’s junk bin.

1910-S/S RPM (FS-501 And FS-502)

These are coins where the “S” mint mark was punched into the working die more than once in slightly different positions. The result is visible doubling or a ghost “S” next to the primary one. This happened during die preparation, not during striking, so every coin from that die shows the same error.

Grab a 5x to 10x loupe and look at the mint mark below the date. On the FS-502, the secondary “S” is shifted south of the primary punch. On the FS-501, it’s shifted north. These show up in dealer stock and inherited collections priced as ordinary 1910-S coins all the time — classic cherrypicking territory.

The FS-502 carries serious premiums. Heritage Auctions got $19,200 for an MS67RD example in October 2018 — more than triple what a non-error 1910-S brings at the same grade. An MS66RB sold for $1,087 at a September 2019 Heritage sale, and an MS63BN brought $260 in 2022. The FS-501 has no documented Heritage results in RD, which tells you how scarce top-color examples are.

PCGS populations for both RPM varieties are razor-thin at MS66RD and above — single digits. Most surviving examples sit in lower circulated grades.

Also Read: 42 Rare Penny Errors List with Pictures (By Year)

 

Where to Sell Your 1910 Penny?

Now that you understand the potential value of your 1910 pennies, are you wondering how to authenticate and sell these vintage coins safely? Don’t worry, I’ve researched the best coin selling platforms, including their authentication processes, fees, and buyer protection policies.

Check out now: Best Places To Sell Coins Online (Pros & Cons)

 

1910 Penny Market Trend

Market interest: 29,160 collectors tracking this coin as of Oct 2026 — up 1,000 from Mar 2026. 12-month peak: 29,280 (Jan 2026).

*Market Trend Chart showing the number of people paying attention to this coin.

 

FAQ About the 1910 Penny Value

1. How much is a 1910 penny worth?

Anywhere from $2–$4 in beat-up Good condition to $52,875 for a PR67+RD matte proof. A Philadelphia example tops out at $10,869 in MS67+RD, and the 1910-S reaches $48,000 in MS67+RD. Grade, mint mark, and color designation drive everything. An RD coin can bring five to ten times what the same grade in BN sells for. Even well-worn 1910 pennies typically trade for $3–$15.

2. What makes a 1910 penny rare?

Several factors create rarity in 1910 pennies. The 1910-S has only 6,045,000 examples struck versus Philadelphia’s 147 million, making it a certified semi-key date. Proof specimens total just 2,405 pieces. Minting errors like the RPM FS-501 and FS-502 varieties add further scarcity. Most critically, survival data shows only 0.0027% of Philadelphia pennies exist in collectible condition, and maintaining original red (RD) copper color after more than a century is extremely difficult — fewer than 20 examples of the Philadelphia issue have been certified MS67RD or above combined by PCGS and NGC.

3. Are there any 1910 pennies worth money?

Absolutely. The proof leads at $52,875 (PR67+RD, Heritage Auctions, December 2019), followed by the 1910-S at $48,000 (MS67+RD, Heritage Auctions, January 2025), and the 1910-S/S RPM FS-502 error at $19,200 (MS67RD, Heritage Auctions, October 2018). Even standard Philadelphia examples reach $10,869 in top MS grades. Most heavily circulated pieces bring $2–$10.

4. What is a 1910 matte proof penny and how do I identify one?

A 1910 matte proof is a specially made collector coin struck with sandblasted dies that produce a dull, grainy surface texture — completely unlike the brilliant mirror-like proofs made in later years. To identify one, look for extremely sharp, square-edged design details (especially on Lincoln’s portrait), a uniform satiny or granular surface on both sides, and a lack of any cartwheel luster. Only 2,405 were made, all at Philadelphia (no mint mark). If you think you have one, professional grading by PCGS or NGC is strongly recommended before attempting to sell, as authentic examples command $500–$52,875 depending on grade and color.

5. What do BN, RB, and RD mean on a 1910 penny?

These are color designations assigned by grading services PCGS and NGC to copper coins. RD (Red) means the coin retains 85% or more of its original bright copper color — the most valuable designation. RB (Red-Brown) means the coin shows between 15% and 85% original red color mixed with brown toning. BN (Brown) means less than 15% of the original red remains and the coin is primarily brown or darkened. For a 1910 Philadelphia penny, for example, MS66RD might sell for $500–$1,000 while the same coin in MS66BN might bring only $100–$200.

6. What is the 1910-S/S RPM error and how do I spot it?

The “S” mint mark was punched into the working die twice in slightly different positions. You get a visible doubling or shadow on the finished coin. Two varieties exist: FS-501 and FS-502, catalogued in the *Cherrypickers’ Guide*. Use a 5x–10x loupe and examine the “S” below the date for a secondary impression. An MS67RD FS-502 sold for $19,200 at Heritage Auctions in October 2018.

7. How does the 1910-S compare to other early S-mint Lincoln cents?

It’s a mid-level semi-key. More available than the true keys like the 1909-S VDB (mintage: 484,000) and 1914-D (mintage: 1,193,000), but considerably scarcer than most Philadelphia issues from the same era. Its 6,045,000 mintage and limited high-grade survivors — especially in RD — put it solidly in the premium tier for collectors building early Lincoln cent sets. Circulated grades (VG through EF) typically run $15 to $80.

8. Should I clean my 1910 penny before selling it?

Never clean a 1910 penny — or any collectible coin. Cleaning removes the natural surface patina and microscopic layers of metal, leaving behind hairline scratches visible under magnification. Cleaned coins are designated “details” grades by PCGS and NGC (e.g., “MS63 Details — Cleaned”) and can lose 50–90% of their potential value compared to an unclean example at the same grade. A naturally toned 1910 penny in BN designation is always preferable to a bright but cleaned coin. Leave it exactly as you found it and let a professional grader assess its condition.

9. How do I tell if my 1910 penny is Philadelphia or San Francisco?

Look directly below the date on the obverse. A small “S” means San Francisco — that’s your 1910-S, and it carries a premium at every grade. No letter means Philadelphia. Denver didn’t strike Lincoln cents until 1911, so there’s no “D” for this year. On worn coins the “S” can be tough to read, so grab a magnifying glass. Finding an “S” on what you thought was a plain coin can bump the value significantly.

10. What is the highest grade ever certified for a 1910 penny?

For the 1910 No Mint Mark, PCGS has certified examples in MS67+RD — an extremely rare designation with a population of just one or two coins at that level, one of which sold for $10,869 at Heritage Auctions in 2018. For the 1910-S, PCGS has certified a single MS67+RD example, which achieved $48,000 at Heritage Auctions in January 2025. For the proof, the top-certified PCGS grade is PR67+RD, with the finest known example selling for $52,875 at Heritage Auctions in December 2019. At all three varieties, the MS67+ or PR67+ level represents a genuine condition rarity with populations in the single digits.