1973 Penny Value Checker: Errors List, “D”, “S” & No Mint Mark Worth

1973 Penny value ranges from $0.01 face value to $12,075. That record was set by a Grade 70 example sold through Heritage Auctions in January 2004. 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.

1973 Penny Value Checker

Identify 1973 Penny D, S and No Mint Mark Price

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1973 Penny Value Chart By Variety

Here’s a quick look at 1973 penny values across mint marks and conditions. If you already know your coin’s grade, scroll down to the Value Guides section for exact pricing.

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

Top 10 Most Valuable 1973 Penny Worth Money

The king of the 1973 penny world is a flawless 1973-S DCAM graded PR-70. That coin brought $12,075 — and it earned every dollar. Perfect Deep Cameo proofs with zero flaws under magnification are nearly impossible to find. The jump from PR-69 ($107) to that perfect PR-70 is over $11,000 for a single grade point. That’s the kind of premium that makes you double-check every proof set you own.

Below that top spot, both the Philadelphia and Denver issues top out at $3,760 in MS-67+ RD. Original copper luster drives the value here, not the mint mark. What’s interesting is how San Francisco coins dominate the upper rankings overall. Even an S-mint MS-66 RD ($544) outperforms comparable Denver pieces. I think that’s a reflection of both lower mintage and better average strike quality from that facility.

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

History of the 1973 Penny

The 1973 penny landed right in the middle of one of America’s most turbulent stretches. Nixon was starting his second term, Watergate was heating up, and the Paris Peace Accords had just ended U.S. involvement in Vietnam. Coins from this year are genuine time capsules.

Copper prices were climbing fast. By 1973, making a single penny nearly cost as much as the coin itself. According to a U.S. Mint press release cited by Coin World, demand for cents in early 1974 doubled compared to the prior year — people were hoarding them, betting the copper content would soon exceed face value.

That pressure pushed the Mint into secret territory. Roughly 1.5 million aluminum test pennies dated 1973/1974 were struck, but the program was killed after public backlash. Aluminum coins could be invisible to X-rays if swallowed by children, and that was a dealbreaker. Most were destroyed. A handful were never recovered and remain illegal to sell.

Here’s a fun detail most collectors don’t know: the U.S. Mint sold special “Penny Bags” in the summer of 1973. These were miniature canvas bags holding 15 uncirculated cents — five each from Philadelphia, Denver, and San Francisco — available by mail order. You can still find them on the secondary market for about $4 each. Great entry point if you want original uncirculated examples from all three mints.

The 1973 penny carried Victor David Brenner’s Lincoln portrait (first used in 1909) on the obverse and Frank Gasparro’s Lincoln Memorial reverse (introduced in 1959). It was struck at Philadelphia (no mint mark), Denver (D), and San Francisco (S). By 1982, rising copper costs finally forced the switch to zinc-core planchets — making the 1973 penny one of the last generations of true copper Lincoln Memorial cents struck for circulation.

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

Is Your 1973 Penny Rare?

 You can explore comprehensive rarity information and current market valuations using our Coin Value Checker APP to make more informed collecting decisions.

Key Features of the 1973 Penny

Knowing what to look for on your 1973 penny helps with both identification and grading. Here’s what you’ll find on each side.

The Obverse of the 1973 Penny

Lincoln’s right-facing profile dominates the obverse — the longest-running presidential portrait in U.S. coinage history, appearing continuously since 1909. “IN GOD WE TRUST” sits above his head in capital letters, and “LIBERTY” is positioned to the left of his profile.

Look at Lincoln’s shoulder and you’ll spot Victor David Brenner’s initials “VDB.” Those initials were yanked off the coin after 1909 because the public thought they were too prominent. They came back in 1918, much smaller, and have stayed put ever since. The date “1973” appears below Lincoln’s bust. The mint mark sits directly beneath the date — unless it’s a Philadelphia coin, which carries no mint mark.

The Reverse of the 1973 Penny

Flip it over and you’ll see Frank Gasparro’s Lincoln Memorial design, used since 1959. The Memorial fills the center. Grab a loupe and look between the central columns — there’s a tiny seated Lincoln statue in there. It’s one of the coolest hidden details on any U.S. coin.

“UNITED STATES OF AMERICA” curves along the top rim. “ONE CENT” appears at the bottom. “E PLURIBUS UNUM” is inscribed above the Memorial, and Gasparro’s initials “FG” sit to the right of the building near the steps.

Other Features of the 1973 Penny

The 1973 penny is 95% copper and 5% zinc — technically brass, not bronze, after Congress dropped tin from the formula in 1962. You can’t tell the difference by looking. Each coin weighs 3.11 grams, measures 19.05mm in diameter, has a plain (smooth) edge, and is 1.52mm thick.

Quick test: a genuine pre-1982 copper penny won’t stick to a magnet. Post-1982 zinc-core cents will show mild magnetic attraction. Easy way to sort your finds.

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

1973 Penny Mintage & Survival Data

The numbers for 1973 are massive. Philadelphia cranked out 3,728,245,000 pennies, and Denver added 3,549,576,588 — a single-year production record for that facility at the time. Combined, that’s over 7.2 billion cents. If you stacked them all, you’d reach the moon and back. Twice.

San Francisco’s contribution was tiny by comparison: roughly 319,937,634 total, including about 317,177,295 business strikes and just 2,760,339 proofs. Despite those enormous Philly and Denver runs, only about 15% of regular strikes have survived in collectible condition.

The S DCAM variety tells a different story. From its proof mintage of roughly 2.76 million pieces, about 63.75% have survived — proof-set buyers took care of their coins, unlike the billions that went straight into cash registers.

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

The Easy Way to Know Your 1973 Penny Value

The Sheldon grading scale runs from Poor-1 (heavily worn and barely identifiable) to MS-70 (a perfect, flawless mint state coin). Most circulated 1973 pennies fall in the Fine-12 to Very Fine-30 range, where they’re worth 2–5 cents for their copper content alone.

On the obverse, check Lincoln’s hair detail, cheekbone sharpness, and inscription clarity. On the reverse, examine the Memorial columns and the steps out front. Wear hits Lincoln’s cheekbone and the Memorial’s center steps first — those are your go-to checkpoints.

Color matters a lot on copper cents. Red (RD) coins still have their original copper shine and bring the highest premiums. Red-Brown (RB) means partial oxidation. Brown (BN) coins have fully toned. Each step down costs you real money at auction.

According to PCGS CoinFacts, the 1973-P is easy to find up through MS-65. It gets much scarcer at MS-66, and anything above MS-67 is genuinely rare.

For instant grade estimation and current market values, try our Coin Identifier and Value App — simply upload a photo and get immediate feedback on your coin’s condition and worth. 

1973 Penny Value Guides

1973 Penny Categories:

• 1973 No Mint Mark (Philadelphia)
• 1973-D (Denver)
• 1973-S (San Francisco)
• 1973-S Proof (CAM)
• 1973-S Deep Cameo Proof (DCAM)

Philadelphia and Denver flooded circulation with billions of coins. San Francisco represents the premium end — lower mintages, better strikes, and far fewer survivors in top grades.

The proof versions — especially Deep Cameo specimens — pair mirror-like fields with frosted, matte devices for stunning visual contrast. We think they’re among the most attractive modern Lincoln cents you can collect.

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

1973 No Mint Mark Penny Value

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Most people assume a coin with 3,728,245,000 siblings can’t be worth much. They’re right — until you start talking about top-grade survivors.

A typical MS-65 RD sells for $15–$25. Not bad for a penny. But jump to MS-67 and you’re looking at $135 to $3,760 depending on color designation and market timing. The all-time record? A PCGS MS-67+ RD brought $3,850 at Heritage Auctions in 2020.

Color designation is everything here. RD (Red) coins with original copper shine command the biggest premiums. RB (Red-Brown) coins are partly oxidized and worth less. BN (Brown) coins have fully toned — still collectible, just not in the same league. Even a beat-up circulated example is worth about 2 cents thanks to its 95% copper content.

Auction records show real price swings at the MS-67 level, with results ranging from $135 to $3,760 depending on color designation and market timing.

Market activity peaked at 44 in March 2025 before settling into the 25-40 range through summer.

1973-D Penny Value

Here’s a cherrypicking tip: roughly 80% of 1973-D pennies show weak strikes, especially in Lincoln’s hair and the Memorial columns. Denver was pushing out 3,549,576,588 coins that year — a facility record — and the dies took a beating. A fully struck gem is a completely different kind of rare.

Because mint marks were still hand-punched in 1973, the Denver “D” is especially prone to Repunched Mint Mark (RPM) errors. Check every one you find under magnification. You might spot a ghostly second “D” worth a few extra bucks.

The record for this variety is $4,994 for a PCGS MS-67 RD sold at Heritage Auctions on February 27, 2014. More typical MS-67 examples range from $139 to $990 depending on color and strike quality.

Auction results show real volatility at the MS-67 level, with prices ranging from $139 to $990 depending on color designation and market conditions.

Collector demand has been steady over time, with an explosive surge in March 2025.

1973-S Penny Value

Did you know the 1973-S is one of the last business-strike cents San Francisco ever made? After 1974, the facility switched exclusively to proof production. That alone gives this coin historical weight.

With a mintage of approximately 319,937,634 — a fraction of Philly’s and Denver’s billions — the 1973-S is the scarcest business-strike variety of the year. San Francisco’s strike quality was typically sharper too, which makes high-grade examples especially appealing to registry set builders.

Unlike the famous 1970-S penny with its small-date and large-date varieties, the 1973-S has no known date-size variations. The record sale is $2,233 for a PCGS MS-67 RD at Heritage Auctions on August 10, 2016. As with all copper cents, RD (Red) examples bring the highest premiums, followed by RB (Red-Brown) and BN (Brown).

Auction records confirm the scarcity premium, with MS-67 examples bringing strong prices that reflect how few survive compared to other 1973 varieties.

Market activity stayed flat from September 2024 through February 2025, then spiked hard in March 2025. From May onward, activity climbed gradually and held at higher levels through summer — a sign of growing collector interest.

1973-S CAM Penny Value

Auction records show modest but steady values — you get the proof coin experience at a fraction of what DCAM examples cost.

Activity held steady around 22 from September 2024 through February 2025, then spiked to 44 in March 2025. It dropped to 21 in April before bouncing around through summer, peaking at 41 in July and finishing at 24 in August 2025.

1973-S DCAM Penny Value

This is the coin everyone chases. The 1973-S DCAM (Deep Cameo) penny — NGC calls it “Ultra Cameo” — has contrast so extreme the coin almost looks black-and-white. On the best examples, you can see it clearly without any magnification. It’s stunning.

That finish required serious effort at the San Francisco Mint. Workers polished the background fields to a mirror finish while keeping the raised design elements frosted. Dies were swapped out after very few strikes to preserve the effect. That’s why top-grade DCAM examples are so scarce relative to the total proof mintage.

The “S” mint mark on these coins is exceptionally sharp and well-defined. Here’s the number that blows people away: a PR-70 DCAM sold for $12,075, while a PR-69 brings about $107. That’s an $11,968 gap for one grade point. I believe that’s one of the most dramatic grade-point premiums in all of modern Lincoln cent collecting.

Auction records show strong, consistent performance, with PR-69 examples holding solid values across multiple sales.

Activity held at 22 from September 2024 through February 2025, spiked to 44 in March 2025, dropped to 21 in April, then climbed again to peak at 41 in July 2025 before finishing at 37 in August 2025.

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

Rare 1973 Penny Error List

Billions of 1973 pennies were struck. Most are worth two cents. But the ones with minting mistakes? Those can turn pocket change into serious money. Here’s what to look for.

1. 1973 Penny Wrong Planchet Error (Struck on Dime Planchet)

This is the holy grail of 1973 penny errors. A cent die accidentally struck a Roosevelt dime blank that wandered into the penny production line. The result is a smaller, silver-colored coin with the design cut off at the edges — impossible to mistake for a normal Lincoln cent.

One authenticated example sold for $26,400. Even lower-grade pieces have brought between $450 and $860, with an MS-66 specimen realizing $860. Want to check yours? Weigh it. A genuine wrong-planchet piece comes in at approximately 2.27 grams instead of the standard 3.11 grams, and it’ll be noticeably smaller than a regular penny. Get it slabbed by PCGS or NGC before buying or selling.

2. 1973 Lincoln Penny Doubled Die Error (DDO)

A Doubled Die Obverse (DDO) happens during die production when design elements get impressed more than once at slightly different angles. On 1973 pennies, check “LIBERTY” and “IN GOD WE TRUST” for doubling. Lincoln’s eye and bowtie are other hot spots.

No major, dramatic doubled die exists for 1973 like the famous 1972 or 1969-S DDO varieties. Minor doubled dies do show up and are collectible, ranging from $25 to $100 depending on visibility. Use 5x to 10x magnification. Watch out for machine doubling — that flat, shelf-like effect has zero collector value.

3. 1973 Lincoln Penny Off-Center Strike Error

Off-center errors happen when the planchet isn’t properly seated between the dies. Part of the design goes missing, and you get blank metal showing on one side. A 1–2% off-center strike? Common. Worth almost nothing extra. At 5–10% off-center, you’re looking at $10–$20.

The sweet spot is around 50% off-center with the full date still visible — those can approach $100. One wild example — a 1973 penny struck 90% off-center in a double-strike error — sold for $590 in MS-63 RB grade. The golden rule: if you can’t read the date, the value drops fast.

4. 1973 Lincoln Penny Repunched Mint Mark Error (RPM)

Mint marks were hand-punched onto working dies in 1973. Humans make mistakes. An RPM happens when the “D” or “S” was punched in the wrong spot or at the wrong angle, then corrected with a second punch. Both impressions remain visible under magnification.

These are most common on 1973-D cents because Denver was churning out record numbers. Most RPMs are minor — worth $3–$10. Strong, clearly visible examples under low magnification can bring $30 or more. Check every 1973-D you find.

5. 1973 Lincoln Penny Die Break and BIE Error

Heavy use wears dies down. Cracks form. Chips break off. Those defects transfer to coins as raised lines, bumps, or blobs. The classic 1973 example is the BIE error — a die chip between the “B” and “E” of “LIBERTY” that creates what looks like an extra letter “I.” Kind of charming, honestly.

BIE errors run about $5–$10 in average condition. Bigger die breaks with large raised areas can reach $50–$100 depending on size and placement.

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6. 1973 Lincoln Penny Clipped Planchet Error

A clipped planchet happens when the metal strip wasn’t fed through the blanking punch correctly. The coin blank gets struck with a crescent-shaped piece missing from its edge. Curved clips are the most common type.

Here’s how you authenticate one: check the rim in the clipped area. A genuine clip shows no raised rim there — the rim gets added after blanking, so its absence proves the clip happened before striking. Values for clipped 1973 pennies typically run $10–$50, with dramatic multi-clips or straight clips at the higher end.

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

Where to Sell Your 1973 Penny?

For error coins or high-grade examples (MS-65 or above), major auction houses like Heritage Auctions and Stack’s Bowers typically get the best prices, though they charge buyer’s premiums of 15–20%. eBay works well for mid-range coins — look for sellers with 99%+ positive feedback and stick to PCGS or NGC certified examples above $50. Local coin shows and dealers are great for building relationships and negotiating directly on lower-value pieces.

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

1973 Penny Market Trend

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

FAQ about the 1973 Penny Value

1. How much is a 1973 penny worth?

A worn 1973 penny is worth about 2 cents — the 95% copper content alone exceeds face value. Uncirculated examples bring 10–30 cents. In high mint state grades, values jump: MS-65 RD examples sell for $15–$25, and the all-time record for a 1973 Philadelphia cent is $3,850 for a PCGS MS-67+ RD at Heritage Auctions in 2020.

2. What is the error on the 1973 penny?

Several error types exist. The most valuable is the wrong-planchet error — a cent struck on a Roosevelt dime blank — with one example selling for $26,400. Other errors include Doubled Die Obverse (DDO, $25–$100), off-center strikes ($10–$100+), Repunched Mint Mark (RPM, $3–$30), die breaks including the BIE error ($5–$100), and clipped planchets ($10–$50). Value depends on how dramatic the error is and the coin’s overall condition.

3. What makes the 1973-S penny more valuable than the Philadelphia or Denver versions?

Mintage. San Francisco struck around 319 million versus over 3.5 billion each for Philadelphia and Denver. S-mint coins also got better strike quality and saw less heavy circulation. Plus, San Francisco stopped making business-strike cents after 1974, giving the 1973-S added significance as one of the last S-mint circulation pennies.

4. What is a Deep Cameo (DCAM) proof coin, and why is it worth so much?

Deep Cameo (DCAM), called Ultra Cameo by NGC, describes proof coins where the raised design elements have a bright, frosty white finish while the flat background areas are polished to a mirror-like black. The contrast is visible to the naked eye.

The dies that create this finish can only produce a limited number of perfect strikes before the frost wears down. That’s what makes top-grade DCAM coins genuinely scarce. The 1973-S DCAM PR-70 record of $12,075 versus $107 for a PR-69 shows how drastically that perfection affects value.

5. Is there a 1973 aluminum penny, and is it legal to own?

Yes, approximately 1.5 million aluminum cent test pieces dated 1973/1974 were struck at Philadelphia and Denver. The Mint was exploring alternatives to expensive copper. The program was scrapped after public opposition — concerns included vending machine jams and X-ray invisibility if swallowed by children.

The U.S. government considers surviving aluminum cents federal property. They’re illegal to own or sell. If you find a silver-colored 1973 penny, weigh it: under 1 gram = aluminum (surrender it); 3.11 grams = a copper cent coated in another metal (legal to own and sell).

6. How do I tell if my 1973 penny is Red (RD), Red-Brown (RB), or Brown (BN)?

Red (RD) coins retain at least 95% of their original bright copper-orange luster. Red-Brown (RB) shows between 5% and 95% original red, with the rest toned brown. Brown (BN) coins have fully oxidized.

You can get a rough sense at home under good lighting. Bright copper-orange? Likely RD. Uniformly dull brown? That’s BN. For coins worth submitting, only PCGS or NGC certification will definitively assign the color designation — and that designation makes a huge difference in value.

7. What is a Repunched Mint Mark (RPM) on a 1973-D penny, and how do I spot it?

In 1973, mint workers hand-punched the “D” onto each working die individually. If the first punch landed wrong, they’d punch again — leaving traces of both impressions.

Grab a 5–10x loupe and look directly below or beside the “D” for a ghostly second impression. The 1973-D is especially prone to RPMs because of its record production volume. Most are minor ($3–$10), but strong, clearly doubled examples can bring up to $30.

8. Should I clean my 1973 penny to make it look better and more valuable?

Never. This is rule number one. Cleaning removes natural patina and surface metal, leaving microscopic hairline scratches that graders and collectors spot instantly. A cleaned coin gets body-bagged by PCGS and NGC — returned without a grade — and can lose 50–90% of its potential value. Even a circulated brown 1973 penny in original condition beats a cleaned one every time. Store your coins in acid-free flips, 2×2 cardboard holders, or airtight capsules away from humidity and direct light.

9. How do I identify a 1973 penny struck on a dime planchet?

Start with the obvious: the coin will look silver, not copper. That’s your first clue. Next, weigh it — a genuine dime-planchet error comes in at approximately 2.27 grams versus the standard 3.11 grams. Measure the diameter too; it’ll be noticeably smaller than the standard 19.05mm.

You’ll also see design elements near the rim cut off or compressed because the smaller dime blank couldn’t capture the full penny design. One authenticated example sold for $26,400. Get any candidate professionally authenticated by PCGS or NGC before making buying or selling decisions.

10. What were the U.S. Mint’s “Penny Bags,” and are they worth collecting today?

In the summer of 1973, the U.S. Mint sold miniature canvas bags styled after the large transport bags used to move coins between mints and Federal Reserve Banks. Each held 15 uncirculated 1973 Lincoln cents — five from each mint. They were sold by mail order starting around $2 for five bags.

You can still find them for approximately $4 each on the secondary market. They’re a fun, affordable way to get original uncirculated examples from all three mints in a charming period package. The 1973 set is easier to find than the 1972 version, which suggests stronger original sales.