2010 Penny Coin Value: Errors List, “D”, “S” & No Mint Mark Worth

2010 penny value ranges from $0.01 face value to $4,994. That record belongs to a Grade 67 Shield design example sold through Heritage Auctions in April 2013. Upload a photo of yours below and we’ll give you a quick value range based on condition and mint mark. Then scroll down to see what buyers are actually paying in recent eBay sales.

 

2010 Penny Value By Variety

If you know your coin’s grade, the chart below gives you a quick price lookup. Jump to the Value Guides section for full breakdowns by variety.

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

 

Top 10 Most Valuable 2010 Penny Worth Money

The top spot goes to a 2010-D Shield RD graded MS67 that brought $1,058. That’s over a thousand dollars for a coin you could pull from a bank roll. Getting a Denver cent to MS67 without bag marks is brutally hard — even tiny contact from other coins in the bag knocks it down a grade or two.

Denver coins dominate this list. The second-highest sale is a 2010-D Shield SP RD 69 at $504, one of those satin finish coins from the mint set. Meanwhile, the comparable Philadelphia MS67 only brought $216. The market clearly favors the “D” mintmark in top grades.

San Francisco proofs land lower on the chart. A perfect 2010-S Shield DCAM 70 sold for $118. That might seem odd — a flawless proof coin selling for less than a business strike with bag marks. But that’s how modern coins work. Condition rarity in circulation strikes beats intentional collector coins almost every time.

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

 

History of the 2010 Penny

The 2010 cent launched right after the four-coin 2009 Lincoln Bicentennial set wrapped up. It introduced a brand-new permanent reverse — the Union Shield — meant to represent “President Lincoln’s preservation of the United States of America as a single and united country.”

Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner picked the Union Shield design after a broad review. Here’s a detail I think is great: the shield wasn’t dreamed up from nothing. It was inspired by shield motifs in frescoes painted by Constantino Brumidi throughout the U.S. Capitol Building — during Lincoln’s own presidency. That gives the design a direct visual link to the era it honors.

Philadelphia struck approximately 1,963,630,000 coins, Denver produced around 2,047,200,000, and San Francisco made 1,689,216 proofs for collectors. One technical milestone worth noting: 2010 was the first Lincoln cent where mint marks were applied directly to the master hub instead of hand-punched into individual working dies. That change killed off the repunched mint mark varieties collectors had been cherrypicking for decades.

The Shield design ran from 2010 through November 12, 2025, when the U.S. Mint officially stopped making pennies for circulation. Manufacturing cost had climbed to roughly 3.7 cents per coin — nearly four times face value. So the 2010 penny isn’t just the first year of the Shield design. It’s the launch of the last Lincoln cent reverse ever made for U.S. circulation.

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

 

Is Your 2010 Penny Rare?

Here’s what catches people off guard: the Denver cent, with the highest mintage of any 2010 variety, is actually the most valuable in top grades. Mintage doesn’t equal survival in gem condition. Over 2 billion were struck, but almost all of them got dumped into commerce and picked up hits. Meanwhile, the satin finish coins with only 583,897 each are cheaper because collectors tucked them away immediately. Rarity at the top of the grading scale is what drives prices, not total production numbers.

Access comprehensive rarity analysis and current market data for your specific 2010 penny through our Coin Identifier and Value App‘s detailed evaluation system.

 

Key Features of the 2010 Penny

The 2010 penny kicks off the Lincoln Shield cent series, which replaced the 2009 Bicentennial reverses with a permanent design tied to Lincoln’s role in preserving the Union.

The Obverse Of The 2010 Penny

You’re looking at the same Victor David Brenner portrait of Lincoln that’s been on the penny since 1909. “IN GOD WE TRUST” sits above Lincoln’s head inside the rim. “LIBERTY” is to the left, and “2010” is to the right.

Check below the date for the mintmark — no mark means Philadelphia, “D” means Denver, “S” means San Francisco. Look closely at Lincoln’s shoulder truncation and you’ll spot the tiny initials “VDB” — Brenner’s signature, still there after 116 years. One thing that makes the 2010 obverse special: the Mint went back to the original 1909 galvano to cut fresh dies, so Lincoln’s portrait looks noticeably crisper than on late Memorial-era cents.

The Reverse of The 2010 Penny

Flip it over and you’ll see the Union Shield. Thirteen vertical stripes represent the original states, topped by a horizontal bar for the federal government. “E PLURIBUS UNUM” is inscribed right in that bar. “UNITED STATES OF AMERICA” runs along the upper rim.

A scroll draped across the shield reads “ONE CENT.” Two sets of designer initials are tucked in below the scroll — “LB” (Lyndall Bass, the reverse designer) on the left, and “JFM” (Joseph F. Menna, the sculptor) on the right.

Other Features of the 2010 Penny

The 2010 penny is 97.5% zinc with a thin copper plating (about 2.5% copper total). It measures 19.05 millimeters across and weighs 2.5 grams. The edge is plain — no reeding, no lettering.

All three mints produced 2010 pennies: Philadelphia and Denver made circulation strikes, San Francisco handled proofs. For uncirculated coins, the color designation (RD, RB, or BN) is critical to value — more on that below.

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

 

2010 Penny Mintage & Survival Data

Denver led production with 2,047,200,000 business strikes. Philadelphia added another 1,963,630,000. That’s over 4 billion pennies between the two mints — enough to give roughly 13 coins to every person in the country that year.

San Francisco struck 1,689,216 proof DCAM specimens for 14-coin proof sets. Both Philadelphia and Denver each produced 583,897 Satin Finish Special Strike coins for 28-piece uncirculated mint sets. With billions in circulation, worn 2010 pennies are everywhere. The real challenge is finding uncirculated examples at MS-67 or higher — that’s where the money is.

Proof and satin finish coins survive at much higher rates because collectors stash them in original packaging right away. Circulation strikes got dumped into bags, rolled through counting machines, and spent. Most show wear.

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

 

The Easy Way to Know Your 2010 Penny Value

The Shield reverse introduced new grading headaches. Those vertical stripes and the intricate scroll need full strike sharpness to grade well. The copper plating also develops its own wear and toning patterns that affect both the numerical grade and the color designation (RD, RB, BN). A coin with full original red luster is worth multiples of a toned-down red-brown example at the same grade.

The difference between MS-65 and MS-67 comes down to contact marks, luster quality, and strike detail across those busy design elements. Small differences mean big price swings.

Use our Coin Identifier and Value App to instantly evaluate and analyze these characteristics, providing accurate grading and current values for your 2010 penny through simple photo upload.

For comprehensive grading education beyond pennies, explore our detailed guide on How to Grade Lincoln Pennies.

 

2010 Penny Value Guides

Five varieties exist for the 2010 penny. They share the Union Shield reverse but differ in mint location, striking method, and intended audience. Production ranges from nearly 2 billion circulation strikes down to under 600,000 special collector editions.

2010 Penny Types:

• 2010 No Mint Mark Shield Penny (Philadelphia)
• 2010-D Shield Penny (Denver)
• 2010-S DCAM Shield Penny (San Francisco)
• 2010 Satin Finish Special Strike Shield Penny
• 2010-D Satin Finish Special Strike Shield Penny

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

 

2010 No Mint Mark Shield Penny Value

Here’s a fun fact: the first 2010 Shield pennies were actually submitted for grading in December 2009 — nearly two months before the official February 11, 2010 release. Philadelphia coins carry no mintmark, as they have since the beginning. The Mint started putting “P” on some denominations in 1980, but Lincoln cents still go unmarked for Philly.

Circulated? Worth a penny. In MS-65 RD, you’re looking at around $10–$15. The real action is at the top: an MS-67 RD hit $1,375 in April 2024, and the highest-known MS-68 sits around $1,800 in price guides. That MS-67 to MS-68 jump represents genuine rarity — very few Philadelphia cents survived without bag marks at that level.

Here’s what top-grade Philadelphia 2010 Shield pennies have brought at auction.

Recent sales show steady collector demand for these first-year Shield cents.

Market activity score: 43/100 as of Oct 2026 — up 6 points from Jul 2026. 12-month peak: 47 (Mar 2026).

 

2010-D Shield Penny Value

Over 2 billion struck — the highest single-facility mintage in Shield series history. And yet, the Denver cent is the more valuable variety in high grades. That seems backwards until you realize how few survived in gem condition out of those billions.

The auction record is $4,994 for an MS-67 RD sold in April 2013. More recently, another MS-67 RD brought $1,058. A thousand-dollar penny. Most circulated examples are worth face value, and MS-65 RD coins trade around $5.50 retail. The money is all at the top of the grading scale.

These auction results show what collectors will pay for exceptional Denver 2010 Shield cents.

Demand stays strong for these first-year Denver Shield pennies, especially in top grades.

Market activity score: 43/100 as of Oct 2026 — down 4 points from Jul 2026. 12-month peak: 47 (Jul 2026).

 

2010-S DCAM Shield Penny Value

Can you tell a proof from a business strike without a loupe? With this coin, you can. The mirror fields and frosted devices are that obvious. “DCAM” stands for Deep Cameo — maximum contrast between the reflective background and the frosty raised design. It’s the highest and most desirable proof designation.

Only 1,689,216 were made, distributed in 14-coin proof sets priced at $31.95 each, first offered on July 22, 2010. The “S” mintmark below the date is your confirmation. These went straight from the press into protective packaging, so most survive in excellent shape.

The auction record is $507 for a PR-70 DCAM sold in October 2010 — collectors wanted this inaugural Shield proof immediately. Even a PR-65 DCAM runs about $2.60, making these some of the most affordable proof coins in modern numismatics.

Auction results reflect consistent collector interest in these first-year Shield proofs.

The market for 2010-S DCAM pennies stays active, especially at the PR-69 and PR-70 levels.

Market activity score: 50/100 as of Oct 2026 — unchanged since Jul 2026. Currently at its 12-month peak.

 

2010 Satin Finish Special Strike Shield Penny Value

Think of these as the middle child of 2010 pennies. Not a regular strike, not a proof — something in between. They were struck on burnished planchets under higher pressure than normal, giving them that distinctive soft, satiny luster. Grading services label them “SP” for Special Strike.

Only 583,897 were made at Philadelphia, exclusively for the 28-Piece Uncirculated Mint Set first offered on July 15, 2010. That makes them the most limited non-proof Philadelphia variety from 2010. The catch? That satin surface picks up contact marks more easily than mirror-finish proofs, so ultra-high grades are genuinely scarce.

The auction record is an SP-68 RD at $80 in June 2018. MS-65 RD examples retail around $15.40.

Here’s what these specialized strikes have sold for at auction.

 

2010-D Satin Finish Special Strike Shield Penny Value

What’s the quickest way to tell this apart from a regular Denver cent? The luster. Regular strikes are shiny. These have a soft, matte-like finish from the burnished planchet and higher-pressure strike. Look for the “D” mintmark below the date and that telltale satiny surface.

Denver produced the same 583,897 pieces as Philadelphia, both for the 28-piece uncirculated mint set. Same 97.5% zinc / 2.5% copper-plated composition, same 2.5 grams. The only difference from the Philly version is the mintmark.

An SP-68 RD sold for $10 in October 2013. MS-65 examples retail around $13.00. I think these are underappreciated — they’re technically superior to circulation strikes and make great additions to a complete Shield type set without breaking the bank.

Recorded sales for the Denver satin finish variety:

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

 

Rare 2010 Penny Error List Worth Money

Over 4 billion 2010 pennies were struck. With that kind of volume, errors slip through. The 2010 issue is especially interesting to error collectors because it’s the inaugural year of the Shield design — first-year errors always draw extra attention. Here are the ones worth looking for, with verified auction prices.

1. Doubled Die Obverse (DDO) Error

A DDO happens when the die gets a misaligned second impression during the hubbing process. You’ll see doubled lettering or design elements — not the flat, shelf-like “machine doubling” from press vibration (which adds zero value). On 2010 pennies, check LIBERTY, the date “2010,” Lincoln’s eye, his tie, and IN GOD WE TRUST under magnification. True doubling shows rounded, separated secondary images.

Both 2010-P and 2010-D DDOs are documented varieties. A 2010-P DDO graded MS-63 sold at Heritage Auctions for $415. Depending on doubling severity and grade, values range from $20 to $400+.

2. Off-Center Strikes

These happen when the planchet isn’t seated properly in the press, so the dies only hit part of it. The key for value: can you still read the date “2010”? No date, much less money. A 10%–20% off-center example runs $5–$15. Hit 40%–50% off-center with the date visible and you’re looking at $50–$150.

3. Broad Strike Errors

When a planchet sits outside the retaining collar during striking, the metal spreads beyond the normal 19.05mm diameter. The design is all there — just flatter and wider than it should be. A 2010-P broad strike graded MS-62 sold at Heritage Auctions in 2015 for $775. Most trade in the $9–$25 range depending on how far the metal spread.

4. Die Crack / BIE Errors

This is a classic Lincoln penny variety. A die crack develops between the “B” and “E” in LIBERTY, and because it looks like the letter “I,” the word appears to read “LIBIERTY.” Die fatigue from millions of strikes causes the fracture, which fills with metal and shows up as a raised line on the finished coin. BIE pennies are a great entry point for new collectors.

A 2010-P penny graded MS-65 with obverse and reverse die cracks sold at Great Collections in 2018 for $810. Minor BIE varieties typically bring $5–$25.

5. Rim Cud Error

A chunk breaks off the edge of the die, leaving a gap that fills with metal during subsequent strikes. The result is a raised, blob-like bump along the rim. Bigger cuds are worth more. A 2010-D rim cud graded MS-62 sold at Great Collections in 2022 for $980. On a genuine cud, the area inside the raised blob will be flat and featureless — that’s how you separate it from post-mint damage.

6. Die Cap Error

A struck coin sticks to the die and doesn’t eject. The next planchets get struck against both the die and the stuck coin. Eventually the stuck coin’s edges curl upward like a bottle cap. These are dramatic and uncommon. A 2010-D die cap graded MS-63 sold on eBay in 2019 for $610.

7. Struck-Through Error

Foreign material — grease, wire, debris — lands between the die and planchet at the moment of striking. The object leaves its impression on the coin. Retained struck-through errors where the object stays embedded are more valuable than those where it fell away. A 2010-D struck-through graded MS-60 sold at Great Collections in 2017 for $980.

8. Missing Clad Layer Error (Plating Error)

The penny isn’t technically clad, but the copper plating can peel away from the zinc core due to impurities or contamination during planchet manufacturing. You’ll see the silver-gray zinc underneath. These are visually dramatic and relatively rare. A 2010-P missing copper plating error graded MS-63 sold on eBay for $770.

9. Improperly Annealed Planchet Error

Annealing heats and cools blank planchets to soften them for striking. When the process goes wrong — too much heat, too little, or oxygen exposure — the planchet turns unusual colors: black, dark brown, yellow, or orange-purple. A 2010-P improperly annealed penny graded MS-65 sold at Heritage Auctions for $880 in 2020. Most examples trade between $200 and $600 depending on color intensity and grade.

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

 

Where to Sell Your 2010 Penny?

Whether you’re holding a common circulation strike or a pristine high-grade specimen, selecting the right marketplace can maximize your 2010 penny’s value — from face-value exchanges at local coin shops to premium auction results for top-graded examples.

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

 

2010 Penny Market Trend

Market interest: 6,520 collectors tracking this coin as of Oct 2026 — up 1,000 from Mar 2026. Currently at its 12-month peak.

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

 

FAQ About The 2010 Penny Value

1. What Makes A 2010 Penny Valuable?

Grade, color designation, and mint mark. Circulated coins are worth a cent. In uncirculated condition, color is everything — an RD (Red) coin with 95%+ original copper luster is worth far more than an RB or BN at the same grade. Denver coins bring higher premiums than Philadelphia in top grades like MS-67. San Francisco proofs are a separate category.

2. How Can I Tell If My 2010 Penny Is From Philadelphia Or Denver?

Look below the date on the heads side. No mintmark = Philadelphia. Small “D” = Denver. “S” = San Francisco proof. You don’t need magnification for this one.

3. What Is The Highest Grade A 2010 Penny Has Received?

Business strikes have been graded as high as MS-68 RD, with Philadelphia examples listed around $1,800 in price guides. An NGC-graded MS-69 RD 2010 penny sold for $1,007 in 2019. The 2010-S proof has been certified at PR-70 DCAM by both PCGS and NGC, with one selling for $507 in October 2010.

4. What Is A Deep Cameo (DCAM) Proof Coin And Why Does It Matter For The 2010-S Penny?

DCAM means the coin has sharply frosted raised design elements contrasting against mirror-like reflective fields. It’s the highest surface quality designation for proofs, assigned by PCGS and NGC. For the 2010-S penny, DCAM is the standard for top-grade examples. A PR-70 DCAM sold for $118, while PR-65 DCAM examples trade around $2.60.

5. What Should I Look For In 2010 Penny Errors?

The big ones: doubled die obverse (check LIBERTY, the date, Lincoln’s features), broad strikes (coin wider than 19.05mm), rim cuds (raised blobs on the rim), die caps, and struck-through errors. Verified prices range from $5–$25 for BIE die cracks up to $980 for a Great Collections rim cud. Always compare your find to certified examples on PCGS or NGC — most weird-looking 2010 pennies turn out to be post-mint damage.

6. What Is The Satin Finish 2010 Penny And How Do I Identify It?

These were made exclusively for the 28-Piece Uncirculated Mint Set, first offered on July 15, 2010. Struck on burnished planchets under higher pressure, they have a soft, satiny surface — not shiny like a regular strike, not mirrored like a proof. Both Philadelphia and Denver produced 583,897 each. Grading services label them “SP” on the slab. Values run $13–$15.40 at MS-65 and up to $80+ for SP-68 examples.

7. Are 2010 Pennies Worth Keeping From Circulation?

Most worn 2010 pennies from pocket change are worth $0.01. Set them aside if they look uncirculated (no wear, original luster), show a possible error (misaligned design, odd color, wider than normal), or come from an unsearched roll or sealed bank bag. MS-65 RD examples are worth $5–$15. Pristine MS-67 RD coins from rolls can reach $200–$1,000+.

8. Why Did The U.S. Mint Stop Making Pennies, And What Does That Mean For The 2010 Penny?

On November 12, 2025, the U.S. Mint stopped producing pennies for circulation. Manufacturing cost had hit roughly 3.7 cents per coin. The Shield series is now a closed, completed run — 2010 through 2025. No more will be made. That gives the 2010 first-year issue added collectibility as the launch of the final Lincoln cent reverse. Five of the very last pennies struck on November 12, 2025 were even sent to auction.

9. How Do PCGS And NGC Population Reports Affect The 2010 Penny Value?

Pop reports count how many coins have been certified at each grade. When only a handful of 2010 pennies exist at MS-68 RD in the pop report, that scarcity drives up auction prices directly. For modern coins, almost all the value sits in the top two or three grade points where populations are tiny. Always check current pop data before buying or selling a high-grade 2010 penny.

10. What Is The Best Way To Store A 2010 Penny To Preserve Its RD Color Designation?

Copper-plated coins oxidize when exposed to air, humidity, and contaminants, gradually shifting from RD to RB to BN. Store them in inert, PVC-free holders — Mylar flips or hard acrylic capsules. Keep temperatures stable between 65°F–72°F in a dry environment. Handle by the edges only. Never clean a coin — cleaning destroys numismatic value permanently. Coins stored properly since minting, especially those from original mint sets or immediately slabbed, have the best shot at holding RD color for decades.