1998 Penny Coin Value (Errors List, “D”, “S” & No Mint Mark Worth)

That humble 1998 penny rattling around in your pocket might just be your ticket to unexpected treasure. While most people dismiss these copper-plated coins as ordinary change, savvy collectors know that certain 1998 pennies can command impressive premiums far beyond their one-cent face value.

The key to unlocking your 1998 penny’s worth lies in understanding what makes certain varieties special. Regular Philadelphia pennies (no mint mark) typically trade for just $0.23 in good condition. However, hunt for the rare Wide AM variety and you could be holding a coin worth significantly more in circulated condition, with pristine examples commanding $155.00 in mint state.

What makes these finds even more exciting? These valuable varieties are still being discovered in circulation more than 25 years after they were minted, meaning your next handful of change could contain a genuine numismatic gem waiting to be discovered.

 

1998 Penny Value By Variety

While most 1998 pennies trade for face value, the chart below shows the specific varieties collectors look for. 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 1998 Penny Worth Money

The 1998 penny market demonstrates how modern varieties can achieve remarkable values when combined with exceptional grades. Leading the chart is the 1998-S Close AM DCAM in perfect PR70 condition at $4,406, showcasing the premium collectors place on flawless proof specimens with this scarce variety.

Business strike Close AM pennies also command substantial prices, with an MS69 Red example reaching $2,220, while Wide AM varieties in MS67 grades have sold for $725-$940. Even lower-graded proof examples maintain strong values, with PR60-PR68 Close AM specimens ranging from $423 to $1,265. These impressive prices for relatively recent coins prove that valuable pennies aren’t limited to early dates or major errors.

 

History of The 1998 Penny

The US Mint first issued Lincoln pennies in 1909 to commemorate Abraham Lincoln’s 100th birthday. These original “Wheat cents” were replaced in 1959 with the Lincoln Memorial reverse, designed by Frank Gasparro, to honor Lincoln’s 150th birthday.

Cents minted in 1998 still belonged to this Memorial design series, which lasted until 2008 before the 2009 Bicentennial pennies introduced four new reverse designs celebrating different stages of Lincoln’s life.

Numismatically, the 1998 penny is notable for the “Wide AM” reverse variety. This error occurred when business strike coins were accidentally struck with proof-style dies, widening the space between the letters “A” and “M” in “AMERICA.” Over 100,000 examples are believed to exist from multiple dies, making it an accessible yet significant variety for collectors.

The Wide AM type is part of a small series that includes 1999 and 2000, first highlighted after John Wexler identified the 2000 Wide AM variety in 2001, linking the 1998 coin to a broader pattern of die variations across consecutive years.

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

 

Is Your 1998 Penny Rare?

To quickly assess the rarity and potential value of any penny in your collection, try our CoinValueChecker App for instant professional grading insights.

 

Key Features of The 1998 Penny

The 1998 cents are in a group of Memorial coins. You can see the new Frank Gasparro’s reverse combined with the original obverse side created by Victor D. Brenner. These pennies represent the final decade of the Lincoln Memorial design that ran from 1959 to 2008, making them part of a 50-year numismatic tradition.

The Obverse Of The 1998 Penny

The penny obverse has remained unchanged since 1909, so pieces minted in 1998 still have a Lincoln image in the center with recognizable inscriptions. You can see four inscriptions: IN GOD WE TRUST positioned above Lincoln’s head, the date “1998” to the right of Lincoln’s chest, LIBERTY on the left side, and the designer’s initials “VDB” for Victor David Brenner located on Lincoln’s shoulder.

The mint mark, when present, appears below the date—”D” for Denver-minted coins, “S” for San Francisco proof coins, while Philadelphia-minted pennies have no mint mark.

The Reverse Of The 1998 Penny

The 1998 Lincoln cent reverse includes the centrally placed Memorial with pillars in the front and a small President’s statue in between. Each coin has the standard inscriptions, including UNITED STATES oF AMERICA, FG initials for Frank Gasparro, ONE CENT, and E • PLURIBUS • UNUM •. The FG initials appear to the right of the Memorial near the shrubbery.

Other Features Of The 1998 Penny

Like all Lincoln pennies minted after 1982, those from 1998 consist of 97.5% zinc and 2.5% copper. Their weight is 2.5 g (0.08818 ounces), and you can measure that their thickness is 1.52 mm (0.05984 inches). These one-cent specimens with a plain edge have a diameter of 19.05 mm (1.75 inches). The copper plating gives these zinc-core coins their familiar reddish appearance, though this thin layer can wear away with heavy circulation, revealing the silver-colored zinc beneath.

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

 

1998 Penny Mintage & Survival Data

The 1998 penny mintage data reveals significant numbers across all three facilities. Philadelphia struck 5.0 billion coins without mint marks, while Denver added 5.2 billion with the “D” marking. San Francisco contributed about 2.1 million proof specimens for collectors.

Current survival estimates show approximately 2.1 billion examples each from Philadelphia and Denver facilities still exist, representing survival rates of 41.7% and 40.2% respectively. The San Francisco proofs maintain a 93.1% survival rate with 1.9 million pieces remaining—typical for collector coins that see minimal circulation.

The Wide AM and Close AM varieties lack definitive survival data, as these die varieties weren’t tracked separately during initial mintage.

These survival percentages reflect typical attrition for modern pennies after 25+ years of circulation, with billions lost to damage, melting, or simply sitting forgotten in jars and drawers.

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

 

The Easy Way to Know Your 1998 Penny Value

Determining your 1998 penny’s value starts with checking the mint mark and examining its condition. Most circulated 1998 pennies are worth face value, while uncirculated examples typically range from 10 to 30 cents.

The key is identifying the rare Wide AM variety, where the letters A and M in “AMERICA” are spaced farther apart—these can be worth $20 to $500 or more in mint condition. For instant professional assessment, try the CoinValueChecker App to identify valuable varieties through photo analysis.

 

1998 Penny Value Guides

The 1998 penny series includes three regular mint issues and two significant die varieties that emerged from production mishaps.

Philadelphia and Denver facilities struck billions for circulation, while San Francisco produced proof coins exclusively for collectors. The Wide AM and Close AM varieties resulted from accidental die mixing between business strike and proof dies, creating collectible varieties that weren’t discovered until years after release.

These five distinct types offer collectors different price points and rarity levels, from common circulation coins worth face value to scarce varieties commanding hundreds of dollars.

1998 Penny Types:

• 1998 No Mint Mark (Philadelphia)
• 1998-D (Denver)
• 1998-S DCAM (San Francisco)
• 1998 Wide AM (Philadelphia)
• 1998-S Close AM (San Francisco)

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

 

1998 No Mint Mark Penny Value

The Philadelphia mint struck over 5 billion pennies in 1998 without a mint mark, following the tradition that began with the facility’s opening in 1792. The 1998-P Lincoln Cent has a mintage of over 5 billion, making it a very common coin. Only in MS68 condition or higher are they considered scarce.

Regular 1998 Philadelphia pennies remain abundant in circulation after 25+ years. Most examples found in pocket change grade between Good and Extremely Fine, showing typical wear on Lincoln’s features and the Memorial details. Uncirculated specimens are readily available through coin dealers and online markets.

Red specimens command the highest premiums across all grades, with MS68 examples reaching $170 while red-brown coins at the same grade sell for $14, with brown coins fetching the lowest.

To explore the complete price history and recent sales of 1998 No Mint Mark pennies, view our detailed auction records chart below.

For collectors tracking this coin’s popularity, check our market activity section.

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

 

1998-D Penny Value

Denver struck 5.2 billion pennies in 1998, identified by the “D” mint mark below the date. While the Wide AM variety doesn’t exist for Denver issues, collectors seek high-grade specimens and the scarce doubled die varieties that occasionally surface.

Unlike its Philadelphia counterpart, Denver pennies from this year maintained standard die usage without the proof-style reverse errors. The MS66 red specimen that sold for $529 in 2011 remains the benchmark for this issue, demonstrating that condition trumps mintage numbers. Red (RD) examples retain their original copper-plated luster, while Red-Brown (RB) and Brown (BN) specimens show varying degrees of natural oxidation that directly impacts their market value.

Auction prices spanning multiple grades can be found in this chart.

The market activity of the 1998-D penny is illustrated in the chart below.

1998-D PL Penny Value

The 1998-D Prooflike penny represents an striking quality rarely seen in regular business strikes. Prooflike coins exhibit mirror-like fields that reflect two to four inches of depth, created from the first strikes off highly polished dies. These specimens display brilliant reflective surfaces similar to proof coins but were produced for circulation.

An MS68 PL specimen sold for $450 on eBay in May 2021, establishing the current benchmark for this variety. While this may seem modest compared to other rarities, the PL designation nearly doubles the value of a standard MS68 red Denver penny.

The prooflike surface quality becomes increasingly significant at higher grades—MS67 PL specimens typically trade between $150-$200, while MS66 PL examples sell for $75-$100. These coins are typically the product of the first few hundred strikes from newly polished dies, making them considerably scarcer than standard strikes from the 5.2 billion total mintage.

Our market activity reveals how collector demand fluctuates for these mirror-finish specimens.

 

1998-S DCAM Penny Value

The 1998-S proof penny features the Deep Cameo (DCAM) designation, displaying frosted devices against mirror-like fields. San Francisco struck 2,086,507 proof pennies exclusively for collectors in 1998, making them the scarcest regular issue of the year. Unlike the billions produced for circulation, these proof coins were carefully struck multiple times using specially prepared dies and polished planchets.

Within the 1998 penny series, the San Francisco proofs represent premium collector coins. Standard 1998-S DCAM pennies in PR69 grade typically sell for $5-$15, while perfect PR70 examples command $40-$50. However, a PR70 DCAM specimen achieved $1,265 at Heritage Auctions in 2005, demonstrating how condition and timing influence values.

Detailed auction pricing across all proof grades appears in our auction record chart below.

It is shown that market activity for 1998-S DCAM pennies fluctuates this year.

 

1998 Wide AM Penny Value

The 1998 Wide AM penny represents an accidental minting variety where proof reverse dies were mistakenly used for business strikes. The Wide AM displays visible separation between the letters “A” and “M” in AMERICA, unlike standard 1998 pennies with nearly touching letters. Among the three years of Wide AM varieties (1998-2000), the 1998 ranks as the second scarcest after 1999.

These coins tend to bring about $10 in the lowest condition and up to thousands of dollars in really high mint state grades. Red specimens fetch the highest premiums—MS67 examples typically sell for $400-$725, while red-brown pieces trade for $175-$250, and brown coins bring $30-$80. Over 100,000 examples for this variety probably exist since there have been multiple dies recognized as striking these coins, yet finding high-grade specimens remains challenging.

Price distinctions among grades are made apparent in the accompanying chart.

Recent monthly collector interest for this transitional variety appears in our market activity chart.

To quickly verify if you have the valuable Wide AM variety and get current market values for your 1998 penny, try scanning it with the CoinValueChecker App , which uses image recognition to identify key variety markers and provide instant pricing data based on condition.

1998 Wide AM FS-901 Penny Value

The FS-901 designation comes from the Fivaz-Stanton attribution system, cataloged in the Cherrypicker’s Guide to Rare Die Varieties. This reference standard helps collectors identify the 1998 Wide AM among regular strikes, confirming its status as a legitimate transitional variety worth pursuing.

The FS-901 type, like the 1998 Wide AM, has a certain collectible value. Available in red (RD), red-brown (RB), and brown (BN) color designations, these coins demonstrate how minting mishaps become treasured varieties that command premiums decades later.

Individual sale prices for each grade level are cataloged in our auction records.

Market activity for the FS-901 variety is updated regularly in the chart below.

 

1998-S Close AM DCAM Penny Value

The 1998-S Close AM penny represents one of the most significant modern proof varieties in U.S. coinage. This variety features the letters “A” and “M” in AMERICA positioned close together, characteristic of business strike dies rather than the separated spacing typical of proof strikes from this era.

According to statistics, fewer than 100 examples are known to exist. The extreme rarity in perfect grades makes top-graded examples exceptionally valuable, with prices reaching thousands of dollars. The PR70 specimen was sold for $4,500 in 2015.

The auction record chart reveals the dramatic premium these perfect specimens command when they appear at auction.

Meanwhile, the market activity provides insight into ongoing collector interest for this coveted variety.

1998-S Close AM FS-901 DCAM Penny Value

The 1998-S Close AM FS-901 penny emerged from a fascinating die mix-up at the San Francisco Mint.

To identify this variety, examine the letters “A” and “M” in AMERICA which virtually touch at their bases, rather than the separated spacing intended for proof coins. Additionally, the designer’s “FG” initials appear farther from the Lincoln Memorial base on Close AM specimens, and the “G” lacks the horizontal serif found on Wide AM varieties. Collectors should also check the positioning of the “A” in AMERICA relative to the “T”s in STATES – on Close AM coins, it leans toward the second “T” rather than being centered.

According to auction data, a PR70 DCAM specimen achieved $5,160 in February 2024, while PR69 DCAM examples typically command hundreds to thousands of dollars depending on their cameo contrast and preservation.

The auction record chart illustrates the substantial premiums collectors pay for this scarce variety across different grades.

The chart below will help you understand the coin’s market activity performance over the past year.

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

 

Rare 1998 Penny Error List

While most 1998 pennies are worth face value, certain die defects and striking mishaps have created collectible errors that command premiums in the numismatic market.

These manufacturing anomalies occurred when dies developed cracks, experienced doubling during the hubbing process, or when planchets weren’t properly seated in the collar during striking. Understanding these three specific production errors can help collectors identify potentially valuable specimens hiding in pocket change or rolls.

1. Doubled Die

Pennies with this error have the unintentional doubling of numbers, words, and/or an image, typically on one side. The reason is the design flaw in the form of doubling on the die during its production.

Doubling appears in Lincoln’s eye, his bowtie, lettering parts, or the Memorial pillars. In most cases, it is minor on coins minted this year, and you can notice it only with a magnifying glass. Such pieces typically cost $20 to $50.

2. Off-Center

Misaligned dies or an improperly placed blank coin often result in this error type. Be aware that this displacement can be minor, from 3% to 10%, which rarely increases the coin’s value.

On the other hand, pennies minted in 1998 with 5% to 10% off-center or those with too high error percentages are worth approximately $5 to $15. The most expensive are collectible coins, with 45% to 60% off-center. You can expect to pay about $50 to $100 for one such penny.

3. BIE Die Crack

This error is typical for most pennies in the series because of the die cracking in the middle of the word LIBERTY. Error coins have this word looking like – LIBERTY and can sometimes be expensive. Unfortunately, that is not the case with these modern specimens.

Therefore, you can find one such piece for a relatively modest price of $10 to $15. Some collectors even reported the 1998 Lincoln No Mint mark cents with an IIB error. They are usual this year and typically of insignificant value.

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

 

Where To Sell Your 1998 Penny?

Whether you’re holding a common circulation piece or a rare Wide AM variety, knowing the right place to sell can maximize your penny’s value.

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

 

1998 Penny Market Trend

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

 

FAQ About The 1998 Penny

1. What makes 1998 Penny rare?

Thanks to billions of minted pennies in 1998 and the fact they are only 25+ years old, these coins are common and available for everyone who wants to collect them. However, pieces with Close AM and Wide AM varieties can bring more money than standard specimens.

2. Which 1998 Penny are the most expensive in the set?

• The 1998 MS 69 penny Memorial, red, sold at $5,800 on eBay on November 20, 2020
• The 1998 S PR 70 penny Memorial, Close AM, DCAM, sold at $4,500 on eBay on July 1, 2015
• The 1998 S PR 70 penny Memorial, Close AM, DCAM, sold at $4,000 on eBay on March 31, 2018
• The 1998 S PR 70 penny Memorial, DCAM, sold at $1,265 at Heritage Auctions on June 2, 2005
• The 1998 MS 67 penny Memorial, red, Wide AM, sold at $940 at Heritage Auctions on June 4, 2014

3. What Memorial Penny are the most expensive in the series?

According to auction records, the most expensive coin in the Memorial cent series is the 1999 Philadelphia issue graded MS66, which sold for $138,000 in 2006 due to its rare mule pairing—an obverse cent design struck with the reverse of a dime. The second most valuable is the 1969 San Francisco issue graded MS64 with a doubled-die obverse (DDO), which realized $126,500 in 2008.