2013 Penny Coin Value: Errors List, “D”, “S” & No Mint Mark Worth

2013 penny value ranges from $0.01 face value to $2,750. That record belongs to a coin graded 69, sold through Heritage Auctions in January 2019. Upload a photo below to get a quick value range for yours. You can also scroll down to check recent eBay sales and see what collectors are paying right now.

 

2013 Penny Value By Variety

Three mints struck 2013 Lincoln Shield pennies — Philadelphia, Denver, and San Francisco. Each one carries different collector premiums based on condition and rarity.

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 2013 Penny Worth Money

The king of 2013 pennies is a Denver coin. A 2013-D Shield RD graded MS69 by PCGS brought $2,750 at Heritage Auctions in 2019. MS69 on a business-strike cent is almost unheard of — we’re talking about a coin pulled from billions that somehow survived without a single meaningful contact mark. PCGS has certified only a handful at that level, making it a true top-pop trophy.

Philadelphia’s best showing is a $576 sale for an MS68RD at Heritage in January 2018. PCGS reports just 5 coins at MS68 with none higher. San Francisco proofs tell a different story — PR70DCAM examples sell in the $100–$291 range because hundreds exist at that perfect grade. Still collectible, but a completely different kind of rare compared to those business strikes.

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

 

History Of The 2013 Penny

By 2013, the Union Shield reverse had been running for four years, replacing the Lincoln Memorial design that collectors had known since 1959. Artist Lyndall Bass won an open competition to create the Shield design, and sculptor-engraver Joseph Menna cut the working dies. Both sets of initials — “LB” and “JM” — appear on the finished coin.

Here’s the fun detail from 2013: Canada killed its penny on February 4 of that year. That immediately fired up the debate in Congress about whether the U.S. should do the same. And the numbers backed it up — the Mint’s 2013 Annual Report showed each cent cost approximately 1.83 cents to produce. The total production loss hit roughly $55 million that year. Despite all that red ink, demand for cents in everyday commerce stayed high, which is why Philadelphia and Denver cranked out billions.

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

 

Is Your 2013 Penny Rare?

Here’s what trips people up: the Denver coin had a lower mintage than Philadelphia, yet Denver produced the only MS69 ever certified. That makes the 2013-D the most valuable variety by a wide margin at the top of the grading scale. Meanwhile, the San Francisco proof had the tiniest mintage at 1,274,505 — but so many were preserved in perfect condition that PR70 examples are far more available than an MS68 business strike. Rarity and mintage aren’t the same thing with modern coins.

Use our Coin Identifier and Value App to assess any 2013 Shield pennies you encounter.

 

Key Features Of The 2013 Penny

Knowing what to look for on a 2013 Shield cent helps you spot varieties and judge condition. Here’s a quick breakdown of both sides.

The Obverse Of The 2013 Penny

Victor David Brenner’s Lincoln portrait has been on the cent since 1909 — the longest-running portrait on any regular U.S. coin. You’ll see “IN GOD WE TRUST,” “LIBERTY,” and “2013” in their usual spots. Look at Lincoln’s shoulder for Brenner’s tiny “VDB” initials.

Check just below the date for the mint mark. No letter means Philadelphia. A “D” means Denver. An “S” means it’s a San Francisco proof.

The Reverse Of The 2013 Penny

Flip it over and you’ll see Lyndall Bass’s Union Shield. Thirteen vertical stripes represent the original colonies, tied together by a horizontal banner reading “ONE CENT.” “UNITED STATES OF AMERICA” arcs across the top, “E PLURIBUS UNUM” sits below the shield, and the designer initials “LB” and “JM” flank the bottom banner.

Other Features Of The 2013 Penny

The 2013 penny measures 19.05 millimeters across and weighs 2.5 grams. It’s 97.5% zinc with a thin copper plating — the same formula used since 1982 when copper got too expensive. The edge is plain and smooth, no reeding like you’d find on a dime or quarter.

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

 

2013 Penny Mintage & Survival Data

Philadelphia alone struck 3,750,400,000 pennies in 2013. That’s nearly 12 coins for every person in the United States. Denver added another 3,319,600,000, pushing the combined circulation total past 7 billion.

San Francisco? Just 1,274,505 proof coins. Less than 0.02% of total 2013 cent production.

But here’s what actually matters for value: survival in high grades. Those billions of Philly and Denver cents went straight into cash registers, vending machines, and jars on nightstands — picking up bag marks and dings along the way. PCGS data shows fewer than 10 Philadelphia examples graded MS68RD, with essentially none above that. Out of 3.75 billion coins, fewer than 10 made it through in near-perfect shape.

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

 

The Easy Way to Know Your 2013 Penny Value

Start by checking for a mint mark below the date — no letter means Philadelphia, “D” means Denver, and “S” means a San Francisco proof. Most circulated examples are worth exactly one cent.

Uncirculated coins with full original red (RD) luster and no contact marks can fetch $1–$5 in lower mint state grades; pristine MS67 examples jump into the $10–$30 range. Our Coin Identifier and Value App will check the grade directly.

Pay attention to color. Red (RD) means over 95% original copper-plated surface color survives — that’s where the money is. Red-Brown (RB) means partial toning with 5–95% red remaining, and it trades at a discount. Brown (BN) means less than 5% red luster is left. On these thin-plated zinc cents, color goes fast.

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

 

2013 Penny Value Guides

Three varieties exist for 2013, each aimed at a different audience.

Main 2013 Penny Varieties:

• 2013 No Mint Mark Shield (Philadelphia) — 3,750,400,000 minted; circulated worth face value, uncirculated 10–30 cents; MS68RD record: $576 (Heritage Auctions, 2018)
• 2013-D (Denver) — 3,319,600,000 produced; most worth face value; MS69RD record: $2,750 (Heritage Auctions, 2019)
• 2013-S DCAM Shield (San Francisco) — 1,274,505 proof coins; typically worth $2–$5, PR70DCAM record: $291 (2019)

Philadelphia and Denver coins circulate daily. San Francisco specimens are struck exclusively for proof sets and collector sales.

 

2013 No Mint Mark Shield Penny Value

How does a coin with 3.75 billion siblings become worth $576? Condition rarity. Everything had to go right — a fresh die, a clean planchet, gentle handling off the press, and careful storage ever since.

Red (RD) designation is the key. It means over 95% original copper surface color remains. Red-Brown (RB) shows partial toning, and Brown (BN) means the color is mostly gone. On these zinc-core cents with paper-thin copper plating, holding RD status takes near-perfect preservation from day one.

At MS65RD, hundreds of examples exist. Common. By MS67RD the population drops hard. At MS68RD — the current top grade — PCGS reports fewer than 5 certified coins. Nobody has cracked MS69 for the Philadelphia issue. That $576 Heritage sale from January 2018 shows what collectors will pay when a coin sits alone at the top of the pop report.

Auction records show some price swings, with strong peaks followed by corrections in recent years.

Market activity stays fairly steady with occasional bursts of collector interest.

Market activity score: 37/100 as of Oct 2026 — down 7 points from Jul 2026. 12-month peak: 44 (Jul 2026).

 

2013-D Shield Penny Value

$2,750 for a penny you could pull from a roll. That’s what a PCGS MS69RD 2013-D brought at Heritage Auctions in 2019 — the all-time record for any 2013 Lincoln cent, any variety, any mint. MS69 on a business-strike cent is almost mythical. PCGS has slabbed only a handful at that level.

Below the stratosphere, prices are much friendlier. MS65RD runs $1–$3. MS66RD sits around $5–$10. MS67RD coins — still uncommon — sell for $15–$30. The real cliff is MS67 to MS68, where NGC’s census shows fewer than 10 coins at MS68RD and none certified higher at most recent count.

Color designation matters just as much here. RD commands top dollar, RB trades at a moderate discount, and BN examples only attract interest at the very highest grades where condition rarity kicks in.

Auction records show price fluctuations with stronger and weaker stretches.

Market activity holds steady with occasional interest spikes.

Market activity score: 43/100 as of Oct 2026 — unchanged since Jul 2026. Currently at its 12-month peak.

 

2013-S DCAM Shield Penny Value

Ever wonder why a “perfect” proof penny sells for $291 while an MS68 business strike brings $576? Population. San Francisco’s careful production methods mean hundreds of PR70DCAM examples exist. That keeps prices accessible compared to the near-impossible top-grade circulation coins.

Deep Cameo (DCAM) is the designation you want on proofs. Tilt one under a light and you’ll see heavily frosted design elements — Lincoln’s portrait, the shield, the lettering — sitting on top of perfectly mirrored fields. The contrast is stunning. Because proof dies get replaced frequently, San Francisco achieves DCAM quality on a high percentage of its output.

The top auction result is $291 for a PCGS PR70DCAM in 2019. Lower grades from PR67 through PR69 run $2–$20 depending on DCAM status. I think these are great entry-level collector coins — affordable, beautiful, and genuinely limited to 1,274,505 pieces.

Historical sales show varied pricing with some inconsistencies across different time periods.

Trading volume reflects shifting collector engagement across different periods.

Market activity score: 37/100 as of Oct 2026 — down 13 points from Jul 2026. 12-month peak: 50 (Jul 2026).

2013-S Shield Lyndall Bass Penny

This is a specialized PCGS holder variety that credits Lyndall Bass by name as the Shield reverse designer. It’s part of PCGS’s artist-recognition labeling program, and it appeals to a niche group of collectors who want that direct link to the coin’s creator on the slab itself.

A PR70 Lyndall Bass example sold for $138 in November 2015. The premium over a standard-label PR70 is modest but real. If you’re building a designer-attribution set, these are worth tracking down. Bass’s Shield design has now been in continuous production for 15 years.

Market activity shows variable engagement with occasional interest spikes.

Market activity score: 35/100 as of Oct 2026 — unchanged since Jul 2026. Currently at its 12-month peak.

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

 

Rare 2013 Penny Errors List

No famous major variety like a 1955 doubled die defines the 2013 series, but several error types show up on Shield cents from this era. Some carry real money. Here’s what to look for when you’re cherrypicking rolls or sorting through raw coins.

1. Doubled Die Obverse (DDO) Errors

A doubled die happens during die manufacturing when the hub strikes the die more than once at a slightly different angle. The result is true doubling on design elements — Lincoln’s eye, ear, letters in “LIBERTY,” or “IN GOD WE TRUST.”

John Wexler’s Doubled Die Files document a variety designated 2013 1¢ WDDO-001 with minor doubling on “IN GOD WE TRUST.” Strong, visually obvious doubled die examples sell for $25–$50. Watch out for machine doubling, though — that shelf-like, mushy look carries no premium at all.

2. BIE Errors

These are a collector favorite. A vertical die crack forms between the “B” and “E” of “LIBERTY,” creating what looks like the letter “I” — hence the name. You can spot good ones without magnification.

BIE errors come from aging dies that develop stress fractures during long production runs. Values typically range from $5–$15 depending on how bold the crack is and the coin’s overall grade.

3. Off-Center Strikes

When a planchet isn’t centered properly under the dies, you get a coin with the design shifted to one side and a crescent of blank metal on the opposite edge.

A 3–5% shift? Barely worth mentioning. At 10% or more off-center, you’re looking at $5–$10. Dramatic 50% off-center pieces where the full date and mint mark are still visible can reach $50–$100. That date visibility is critical — without it, you can’t confirm the year.

4. Wrong Planchet Errors

These are the showstoppers. A blank meant for a different denomination accidentally enters the cent press. Picture a 2013 Lincoln cent design struck on a dime planchet — smaller, silver-colored, and unmistakably wrong.

Wrong planchet cents are genuinely rare and can sell for several hundred dollars to over $1,000 depending on the planchet type and condition. If you find a cent that feels oddly light or heavy, or looks the wrong color, get it examined professionally.

5. Struck-Through Errors

A foreign object — cloth fiber, grease buildup, or random debris — gets trapped between the die and planchet at the moment of striking. It leaves a recessed impression or obscures part of the design.

Grease-filled die errors are the most common type. You’ll see flattened or missing letters and numbers where lubricant filled the die’s recesses. Minor examples bring a few dollars. Dramatic strikes with major design elements missing can reach $20–$50.

6. Die Deterioration & Cracks

When dies run too long, they break down. You’ll see die cracks (raised lines across the design), die chips (small raised blobs), and cuds (large raised areas where a whole section of the die broke away). Cuds are the most dramatic — a raised blank area replacing part of the rim and design. On a 2013 cent, a good cud can be worth $25–$100 depending on size and location.

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

 

Where To Sell Your 2013 Penny?

Whether your 2013 penny fetches face value or hundreds depends on choosing the right marketplace. Each selling venue offers distinct advantages and drawbacks that could significantly impact your final payout.

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

 

2013 Penny Market Trend

Market interest: 2,410 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 2013 Penny Value

1. Is a 2013-D penny rare?

Not in circulated grades. Denver struck over 3.3 billion of them. True rarity only shows up at MS68RD and above, where the NGC census lists fewer than 10 certified examples. One MS69RD specimen sold for $2,750 at Heritage Auctions in 2019.

2. How much does a 2013 penny weigh?

Exactly 2.5 grams, with a 19.05 millimeter diameter. It’s 97.5% zinc with a thin copper plating — the same composition used since 1982. If yours weighs significantly more or less, it could be an error worth professional examination.

3. How much is a 2013-S Shield penny worth?

Most are worth $2–$5 below PR69. A PR69DCAM typically sells for $10–$20, and a perfect PR70DCAM can reach $100–$291. The record of $291 was achieved in 2019. Only 1,274,505 were minted, making this variety far scarcer than the billions of business strikes.

4. What does the RD designation mean on a 2013 penny, and why does it matter?

RD stands for Red — over 95% of the original copper-plated surface color is intact. RB (Red-Brown) means 5–95% red remains, and BN (Brown) means less than 5%. On a 2013 cent, the thin copper plating tones quickly, so RD examples are genuinely hard to find in high grades. A 2013-P MS68RD sold for $576; a BN example at the same grade would be worth a fraction of that.

5. What is the most valuable 2013 penny ever sold?

A 2013-D Shield RD MS69 graded by PCGS, which realized $2,750 at Heritage Auctions in 2019. That beats the Philadelphia record of $576 for an MS68RD sold at Heritage Auctions in January 2018. The gap shows just how rare a true MS69 grade is on any modern business-strike cent.

6. What is a 2013 BIE penny error worth?

About $5–$15 depending on crack prominence and overall coin condition. The “I” shape forms from a vertical die crack between the “B” and “E” of “LIBERTY.” Good examples are visible without magnification, making BIE errors one of the most beginner-friendly varieties to hunt for.

7. Is there a known doubled die variety on the 2013 penny?

Yes. John Wexler’s Doubled Die Files list a 2013 1¢ WDDO-001 showing minor doubling on “IN GOD WE TRUST.” Strong examples are valued at $25–$50. Don’t confuse it with machine doubling, which produces a flat, shelf-like look and carries zero premium. True hub doubling shows distinct, separated duplicate images.

8. Why did Canada eliminating its penny in 2013 matter to U.S. cent collectors?

Canada stopped distributing its one-cent coin on February 4, 2013, which immediately fueled the U.S. debate about doing the same. The Mint’s 2013 Annual Report showed production costs of approximately 1.83 cents per coin — a $55 million annual loss. That made the 2013 penny a historically significant issue, struck right at the peak of the “abolish the penny” argument that’s still going today.

9. How can I tell a 2013 proof penny from a business-strike penny?

Three giveaways: the “S” mint mark, razor-sharp design details with perfectly squared-off edges, and mirror-like fields that reflect like glass. DCAM proofs also show dramatic frosted surfaces on Lincoln’s portrait and the shield devices — a stark white-on-mirror contrast you’ll never see on a business strike.

10. Should I clean my 2013 penny before selling it?

Never. Cleaning removes natural surface character and leaves microscopic hairlines that graders spot instantly under magnification. A cleaned coin gets a “Cleaned” or “Improperly Cleaned” designation from PCGS or NGC, which essentially kills its collector value. Store potential keepers in a soft plastic flip or coin tube, away from humidity, and let the grading services handle the rest.