The U.S. Mint struck over 9.5 billion Lincoln pennies in 1987, with Denver producing the highest quantity at 4.88 billion coins and Philadelphia contributing 4.68 billion. These massive production numbers make 1987 pennies extremely common and readily available in circulation today.

Most circulated examples trade near face value, while uncirculated coins reach around $9-10 and Deep Cameo proofs command approximately $3.89. The enormous mintage ensures these coins remain affordable for beginning collectors but limits their investment potential.

Here I will take you through a comprehensive guide to information about the 1987 penny to help you better decide whether to buy or sell this coin.

 

1987 Penny Value By Variety

This comprehensive value chart displays current market prices for 1987 Lincoln pennies across different mint marks and condition grades, from circulated examples to proof specimens.

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 1987 Penny Worth Money

This chart showcases the most valuable 1987 pennies, revealing significant price variations based on specific varieties and conditions.

The standout performer is the 1987-D/D RPM FS-501 67, commanding an impressive $1,800, making it the crown jewel among 1987 penny. The second most valuable is the 1987 RD 69 at $870, followed by the 1987-D RD 69 at $576.

What’s particularly interesting is how condition and mint errors dramatically affect value – the same basic penny type can range from $35 to over $1,800 depending on grade and variety.

These 1987 pennies represent just a fraction of collectible Lincoln cents that serious numismatists pursue.

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

 

History Of The 1987 Penny

The 1987 penny was produced during a transitional period when the U.S. Mint was fully committed to zinc-core pennies, which had been introduced in 1982 to combat rising copper costs.The 1987 penny featured the standard Lincoln Memorial reverse design that had been in use since 1959, paired with Victor David Brenner’s classic Lincoln portrait on the obverse.

The coin was minted at Philadelphia, Denver and San Francisco facilities, with the Denver mint and San Francisco mint producing coins marked with a “D” and “S”mint mark.What makes 1987 pennies particularly interesting to collectors is their zinc composition (97.5% zinc core with 2.5% copper plating), which occasionally led to plating errors and die varieties that are sought after today.

While most 1987 pennies remain common and only worth face value, certain error varieties and exceptionally well-preserved examples can command premium prices among collectors.

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

 

Is Your 1987 Penny Rare?

Use our CoinValueChecker App to verify current market values and detailed rarity information for your 1987 Lincoln cents.

 

Key Features Of The 1987 Penny

Let’s now look at the unique characteristics of the 1987 penny. Familiarizing yourself with these features can help you identify 1987 pennies worth adding to your collection or how much you can expect from your penny.

The Obverse Of The 1987 Penny

The obverse or heads side of the 1987 penny shows the right-facing portrait of President Abraham Lincoln. The portrait was based on Brenner’s past work such as a plaque he had sculpted and photograph he had taken of the late president.

The motto: IN GOD WE TRUST, is shown at the top along the inner rim.

You will also see the word LIBERTY on the left side while the year date appears on the right in from of Lincoln’s profile.

The Reverse Of The 1987 Penny

On the reverse or tails side of the 1987 penny, you will see the Lincoln Memorial, which prominently takes center-stage on the coin’s surface.

Upon closer look, you will notice Lincoln’s statute seated inside the Memorial. Frank Gasparro designed the reverse image even though he had never seen the Lincoln Memorial in real life, which is quite impressive.

If you check to the furthest right close to the staircase, you will see the initials FG, representing Frank Gasparro.

The country’s name appears along the top of the coin followed by the motto E PLURIBUS UNUM, which means “Out of many, one.”.

The coin’s denomination, ONE CENT, appears at the bottom along the coin’s inner rim.

Other Features Of The 1987 Penny

Aside from having a fairly simple obverse and reverse design, the 1987 penny is a fairly small coin measuring 19.00 millimeters in diameter and weighing only 2.50 grams.

The coin is made of Copper-plated Zinc and has a plain edge.

The mints at Philadelphia, Denver and San Francisco produced Lincoln pennies in 1987. But, only the ones from the Denver and San Francisco, which you can identify by the mint mark D and S on the obverse below the date.

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

 

1987 Penny Mintage & Survival Data

The 1987 penny production figures reveal massive circulation strikes from both Philadelphia and Denver mints, with nearly identical outputs exceeding 4.6 billion coins each.

In stark contrast, the San Francisco mint produced just over 4.2 million proof specimens, representing less than 0.1% of total 1987 penny production.

Survival rates tell a story about coin preservation patterns. Regular circulation strikes from both mints show identical 30% survival rates, reflecting similar wear and loss patterns over nearly four decades.

However, the proof coins demonstrate exceptional preservation with an 85.5% survival rate, highlighting collectors’ careful stewardship of these premium specimens.

The survival distribution clearly shows that despite similar original mintages, Denver pennies represent a slightly larger portion of surviving coins.

Due to the small production of Proof DCAM coins, although the survival rate is high, the overall proportion is almost negligible.

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

 

The Easy Way to Know Your 1987 Penny Value

Most 1987 pennies circulate at face value, but specific characteristics separate common coins from collectible treasures. High-grade uncirculated specimens, particularly those with full red luster, can command premiums. San Francisco proof coins with deep cameo contrast are especially desirable. Error varieties—including doubled dies, off-center strikes, and planchet flaws—can dramatically increase value beyond typical examples.

Evaluating your 1987 penny means assessing strike quality, identifying subtle die varieties, and determining whether post-1982 composition affects collector interest—complexities that require numismatic expertise.

CoinValueChecker App simplifies everything. One quick photo delivers comprehensive analysis: mint identification, error detection, condition grading, and real-time market pricing. 

 

1987 Penny Value Guides

1987 Penny Types:

• 1987 No Mint Mark Penny– Philadelphia
• 1987-D Penny– Denver mint
• 1987-S DCAM Penny– San Francisco

The 1987 penny was minted at three U.S. facilities, each producing distinct varieties for collectors.

The Philadelphia mint produced coins without mint marks, while Denver created 1987-D pennies identifiable by their “D” marking. San Francisco contributed the premium 1987-S DCAM (Deep Cameo) proof pennies.

This section detail pricing across all three mint varieties, from circulated examples worth face value to exceptional mint state specimens commanding hundreds or thousands of dollars.

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

 

1987 No Mint Mark Penny Value

The 1987 No Mint Mark penny represents Philadelphia Mint’s longstanding tradition of producing coins without identifying marks, making these coins easily identifiable to collectors familiar with U.S. minting practices.

Philadelphia was the only mint in operation during the early years, so identifying coin sources was unnecessary, and this practice continued even after branch mints were established.

With the exception of 2017, when a ‘P’ was added to the penny to commemorate the 225th anniversary of the United States Mint.

This coin maintains the historical Philadelphia standard while representing the Lincoln Memorial series that commemorated Lincoln’s sesquicentennial.

According to the curve chart below, the auction price of MS 69 RD in 2022 was only $870, while the current premium is as high as $4,600.

In addition to RD, there are two colors, RB and BN, but their quality is far inferior to RD.Take RB as an example,  a MS63 grade RB was auctioned for only $128.

The comprehensive auction record chart below details the realized prices for various grades of this Philadelphia specimen across different market periods.

Current market activity indicators show sustained collector interest in high-grade examples.

 

1987–D Penny Value

The 1987-D penny was produced at Denver Mint, with the highest mintage of any 1987 Lincoln cent variety.

The 1987 “D” penny isn’t really all that unique compared to other variants minted for five decades, and considering Denver produced nearly 5 billion coins, they aren’t exactly rare either.

However, don’t underestimate the potential of high levels. The all-time record price for a 1987-D penny was paid in 2023 when a collector spent $12,000 to buy a specimen certified MS69RD.

The performance of BN and RD is relatively average. A ms 64 BN was sold for $1,093 in 2007, and MS65 RB was auctioned for only $15.

The detailed auction record chart below chronicles realized prices for this Denver variety across different condition grades and market periods.

Current market activity reflects steady collector participation despite the coin’s common status in most conditions.

 

1987-S DCAM Penny Value

The 1987-S DCAM penny represents a Deep Cameo proof coin struck at San Francisco.This proof penny was produced using specialized high-tonnage presses that strike coins multiple times to achieve exceptional detail and mirror-like reflectivity.

The 1987-S DCAM holds nothing unique beyond representing quality proof production from the San Francisco facility during the Lincoln Memorial series era.

Therefore, the premium is within the normal range and is not a particularly expensive or rare coin.

However, high-grade coins can still be sold at a satisfactory price, with the auction record reaching $2,070 for a PR70 specimen in 2004.

Auction record shows the 1987-S DCAM‘s premiums remain at a moderate level.

This is the market activity chart of 1987-S DCAM Penny.

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

 

Rare 1987 Penny Error List

The error coin of 1987 penny that have become highly sought after by collectors. These minting mistakes, ranging from doubled dies to re-punched mint marks, can transform an ordinary cent into a valuable treasure.

Understanding these specific error types helps collectors identify potentially valuable coins in circulation and distinguish between common pennies and rare varieties worth significant premiums.

1987-D/D RPM FS-501

The 1987-D/D RPM FS-501 represents a re-punched mint mark variety created during the die preparation process at Denver Mint.

This variety occurs when the “D” mint mark punch was applied to the working die more than once with misalignment between strikes, resulting in visible evidence of multiple “D” impressions.

The FS-501 designation within the Fivaz-Stanton numbering system (501-699 range) identifies this as a cataloged “Mint mark Variety.”

This variety demonstrates the pre-1990 mint mark application method where manual punching occasionally resulted in misaligned strikes, creating collectible varieties that distinguish themselves from regular 1987-D cents through doubled mint mark evidence.

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

 

Where To Sell Your 1987 Penny?

Now that you’ve determined your coins’ worth, are you wondering about the best online selling platforms? I’ve researched and gathered information on top coin-selling websites, complete with detailed overviews, advantages, and disadvantages for each option.

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

 

1987 Penny Market Trend

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

 

FAQ About The 1987 Penny

1. Are any 1987 pennies worth money?

Generally, 1987 pennies are only worth their face value. These coins are common and very affordable in all grades but some may be worth money.

In particular, full red 1987 pennies graded MS68 and above are extremely rare and can therefore fetch as much as $35. The proof coins struck in San Francisco are also relatively valuable, bringing in up to $110.

2. How much copper is in a 1987 penny?

The 1987 penny is essentially a zinc coin as it comprise a 97.5% zinc core and 2.5% copper outer layer. The coin weighs approximately 2.5 grams.

3. Where is the mint mark on a 1987 penny?

The mint mark is on the obverse below the date. Only the 1987 pennies from Denver and the proofs from San Francisco have a mint mark D and S respectively.