2018 Penny Coin Value: Errors List, “D”, “S” & No Mint Mark Worth

2018 penny value ranges from $0.01 face value to $5,996. That record belongs to a coin graded 69, sold through Heritage Auctions in July 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 buyers are paying today.

 

2018 Penny Value By Variety

Most 2018 pennies from circulation are worth face value. Collectors chase high-grade examples and proof varieties that carry real premiums. If you know your coin’s grade, check the exact price in the Value Guides section below.

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

 

2018 Penny Value: Top 7 Most Valuable Examples Worth Money

The king of 2018 pennies is a Denver Mint coin graded MS69 RD by NGC. That’s one tiny step from perfection. It sold on eBay for $5,996 on July 16, 2019. Philadelphia’s best — an MS68 RD slabbed by PCGS in 2022 — hammered for $1,799.99. The jump from MS68 to MS69 is massive in price because so few coins survive at that level. Grade sensitivity, not mintage, drives this market.

The 2018-S PR70 DCAM (Deep Cameo — frosted designs over deeply mirrored fields, the top proof designation) sold for $72.99 in a 2021 PCGS-certified auction. A standard proof in PR68 DCAM? Just a few bucks. That gap shows you what a perfect grade does, even on an inexpensive modern coin.

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

 

2018 Penny Value History and Minting Background

The 2018 penny carries the Lincoln Shield reverse that debuted in 2010. Artist Lyndall Bass designed the shield, and U.S. Mint sculptor-engraver Joseph Menna sculpted it. The shield represents Lincoln’s fight to hold the Union together through the Civil War.

Here’s the fun detail for 2018: Philadelphia dropped the “P” mint mark. That “P” had appeared on 2017 pennies as a one-year celebration of the Mint’s 225th anniversary. So 2018 coins went back to the traditional no-mint-mark convention for Philly strikes.

Each 2018 cent cost 2.06 cents to produce — up from 1.82 cents in 2017. You’re literally losing money making pennies. The copper-plated zinc composition has been standard since 1982, when rising copper prices killed the old 95% copper planchet.

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

 

2018 Penny Value Rarity Chart: Is Your Coin Rare?

With nearly 8 billion struck between Philly and Denver, almost every 2018 cent is common. Rarity only kicks in at MS68 and above for business strikes, or with verified error varieties. That’s the counterintuitive part — a coin with billions minted can still be genuinely rare if you’re talking about top-pop examples. The difference between MS67 and MS68 isn’t just one grade point; it’s a completely different kind of rare.

Our Coin Identifier and Value App can evaluate individual coins for grade-dependent premiums or rare error varieties that occasionally emerge from recent production runs.

 

Key Design Features of the 2018 Lincoln Shield penny

The 2018 penny uses the Union Shield design with crisp details and clean inscriptions. It keeps the classic Lincoln cent dimensions on a copper-plated zinc planchet introduced in 1982.

The Obverse Of The 2018 Penny

Lincoln’s right-facing portrait dominates the obverse with solid depth and sculptural detail. Look closely and you’ll see fine hair texture and clothing lines from Victor David Brenner’s original 1909 design. “IN GOD WE TRUST” arcs above Lincoln’s head, “LIBERTY” sits behind his profile, and “2018” appears to the right of his neckline.

Check Lincoln’s shoulder truncation — Brenner’s “VDB” initials are still there. Those initials caused a stir when the coin first launched in 1909, got pulled briefly, then came back for good. On 2018 Philadelphia coins, there’s no mint mark below the date. That’s the return to normal after the special 2017-P issue.

The Reverse Of The 2018 Penny

Flip it over and the Union Shield fills the center. Thirteen vertical stripes sit below a horizontal bar — the thirteen original colonies united under one government. “UNITED STATES OF AMERICA” runs along the upper rim. “ONE CENT” appears on a ribbon banner across the shield’s face. Look at the horizontal bar at the top and you’ll find “E PLURIBUS UNUM” inscribed there.

Other Physical Features of the 2018 Penny

The 2018 penny measures 19.05mm in diameter and 1.55mm thick, weighing exactly 2.5 grams. The edge is plain and smooth — no reeding like you’d see on quarters and dimes.

Fresh from the mint, the copper plating gives that familiar orange-red color. It fades through oxidation over time, which is why grading services assign separate color designations (RD, RB, BN) to copper coins.

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

 

2018 Penny Value Mintage & Survival Data

Philadelphia struck 4,066,800,000 cents in 2018. Denver added 3,736,400,000 more. That’s nearly 7.8 billion pennies between the two mints — enough to give every person on Earth one coin with a billion left over. San Francisco produced approximately 899,000 proof coins for collector sets.

Rolls and bags of 2018 cents are everywhere at face value. Nobody tracks survival data for circulation strikes because so many exist. The San Francisco proof, with its limited mintage, has a more defined population in grading service records.

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

 

The Easy Way to Know Your 2018 Penny Value

Start by checking condition. Worn examples are worth one cent. Uncirculated coins with no wear typically bring 10 to 30 cents. Error varieties like die clashes, broad strikes, and retained cuds can bring anywhere from $15 to $200 or more.

Next, look at color under good lighting. A blazing orange-red surface (RD) is worth significantly more than a dull brown example in the same grade.

Download the Coin Identifier and Value App for instant professional assessment to identify errors and grade your 2018 Shield penny accurately.

 

2018 Penny Value Guides: All Three Varieties

Three mints struck 2018 pennies, each for a different purpose. Here are the varieties:

• 2018 No Mint Mark Shield Penny：Standard circulation strike from Philadelphia Mint
• 2018-D Shield Penny：Denver Mint circulation strike with “D” mint mark
• 2018-S DCAM Shield Penny：San Francisco proof coin with Deep Cameo finish

You’ll find everything from pocket change coins to limited proof specimens crafted for collectors.

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

 

2018 Penny Value: No Mint Mark Philadelphia Shield Cent

Here’s something most people don’t realize: the 2018 penny actually cost the Mint money to make. Production ran 2.06 cents per coin, up from 1.82 cents in 2017, thanks to rising zinc and copper prices.

Philadelphia struck over 4 billion of these. They’re everywhere. Despite that massive output, examples become genuinely scarce at MS68 and above on the Sheldon Scale (the 70-point grading system, where 1 means heavily worn and 70 means absolutely flawless).

An MS68 RD specimen graded by PCGS sold for $1,799.99 in a 2022 auction. That’s condition rarity at work — not mintage rarity. When you’re evaluating color, always aim for the RD designation. An RD example at the same grade as an RB is worth 20 to 30% more because of that preserved original red luster.

Auction records for this variety are limited, but the sales below give you a sense of market value.

Here’s the current market activity snapshot.

Market activity score: 35/100 as of Oct 2026 — down 8 points from Jul 2026. 12-month peak: 47 (Jun 2026).

 

2018 Penny Value: Denver Mint D Shield Cent

What would you pay for a single penny? Someone paid $5,996. That was for a 2018-D graded MS69 RD by NGC, sold on eBay on July 16, 2019. It holds the auction record for the entire 2018 series.

Denver struck 3,736,400,000 cents that year, each with a small “D” below the date. Grading specialists note the 2018-D tends to come through with above-average quality — Gem examples at MS65 and above are easy to find. MS69 pieces have been certified. But MS70 (flawless under 5x magnification, no marks, full strike, complete original luster) is a different story. Circulation-intended coins almost never hit that bar.

If you’re on a budget, MS66 through MS67 examples are plentiful and affordable. Once you climb toward MS68 and MS69, prices jump hard and registry set competition gets fierce. Always look for the RD color designation — an RD coin at MS67 is worth roughly 20 to 30% more than an RB in the same grade.

Here are auction records of 2018-D Shield penny.

Collector interest in this Denver variety stays consistent across different market periods.

Market activity score: 37/100 as of Oct 2026 — down 3 points from Jul 2026. 12-month peak: 43 (Aug 2026).

 

2018 Penny Value: San Francisco S DCAM Proof

Can you get a perfect proof penny for under $75? Yes. The top-graded 2018-S PR70 DCAM, certified by PCGS, sold for $72.99 in a 2021 auction. That tells you how accessible even the finest modern proofs remain.

San Francisco struck approximately 899,000 proof coins for collector sets in 2018, celebrating the 50th anniversary of regular proof production at that facility (which started in 1968). DCAM stands for Deep Cameo — heavily frosted design elements against deep, mirror-like fields. It’s the highest proof designation PCGS awards. NGC calls the same thing “Ultra Cameo” (UCAM). Die frost wears away after the first few hundred strikes, so only early coins get that dramatic contrast.

There’s also a 2018-S Reverse Proof penny from the anniversary set. On a Reverse Proof, the finish flips: design elements are shiny while the fields are frosted. Mintage was limited to 200,000 pieces. The top PR70 RD brought $80 in a 2019 sale. Standard reverse proof examples typically retail for $10 to $15 in 2025. I think the Reverse Proof is the most interesting coin from the entire 2018 penny series.

DCAM coins command 20% to 50% more than a standard proof at the same numeric grade. That cameo contrast is what collectors pay for.

Here’s the market activity for this San Francisco proof variety.

Market activity score: 47/100 as of Oct 2026 — down 3 points from Jul 2026. 12-month peak: 60 (Dec 2025).

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

 

Rare 2018 Penny Value Errors: Full Error List

No major design changes happened in 2018, but plenty of minting mistakes slipped past quality control. These errors turn ordinary cents into coins worth real money. Here’s what to look for when you’re cherrypicking.

1. Doubled Die Errors (DDO/DDR)

A Doubled Die Obverse (DDO) or Doubled Die Reverse (DDR) happens when the hub impresses the die more than once at a slight shift. That doubling transfers to every coin struck by that die. On 2018 cents, check “LIBERTY,” “IN GOD WE TRUST,” the date, and the shield’s vertical stripes on the reverse.

No major doubled die has been confirmed for 2018, but minor varieties exist. Depending on how strong and visible the doubling is, these sell for $25 to $50 or more.

2. Off-Center Strikes

When the planchet isn’t seated properly between the dies, you get a crescent-shaped blank area on the coin. These are dramatic and easy to spot.

A 2018 penny that’s 5% to 10% off-center sells for $10 to $15. The sweet spot is around 50% off-center with the full date still visible — those can hit $100 or more from error collectors.

3. BIE Die Chip Errors

A die chip is a small piece of the die that breaks away, leaving a raised bump on struck coins. The classic Lincoln cent version is the “BIE” error — a vertical die crack between the “B” and “E” in “LIBERTY” that looks like a capital “I.”

Lots of collectors hunt BIE pennies by year. It’s a fun, affordable specialty. A 2018 BIE penny typically sells for $5 to $15, with bigger or more dramatic chips bringing more.

4. Strike-Through Errors

Grease, fabric, or debris gets trapped between the die and planchet during striking. The result is a smooth, blank area where design detail should be. On 2018 pennies, strike-through grease can wipe out parts of Lincoln’s portrait or the shield.

These typically sell for $25 to $75. Significant examples affecting major design elements can bring $100 to $350.

5. Die Clash Errors

Die clashes happen when the obverse and reverse dies smack together with no planchet between them. Each die picks up a ghost impression of the other. Coins struck afterward show faint phantom images — maybe a hint of the shield on Lincoln’s face, or traces of obverse lettering on the reverse.

Mild clash marks bring $5 to $15. Dramatic, clearly visible clashes are worth more — one 2018 die clash penny sold for $199 at auction.

6. Missing Clad Layer / Lamination Errors

Modern cents have a zinc core with thin copper plating bonded to the surface. Sometimes that copper layer doesn’t bond right and peels away. That’s a lamination error.

A 2018 penny with a missing clad layer on the obverse has sold for $50 at auction. Coins where an entire side shows bare zinc are rarer and more valuable to error specialists.

7. Wrong Planchet Errors

Extremely rare in modern coinage. This happens when a penny gets struck on a planchet meant for another denomination — like a dime blank or even a foreign coin blank. The wrong metal, wrong size, wrong weight. Visually unmistakable.

These must be authenticated by PCGS or NGC. When confirmed, wrong-planchet Lincoln cents can command hundreds or even thousands of dollars depending on the planchet type.

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

 

Where To Sell Your 2018 Penny and Get Maximum Value

Finding the right marketplace for your 2018 penny ensures you receive fair value while connecting with collectors who appreciate these modern Shield varieties.

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

 

2018 Penny Value Market Trend

Market interest: 3,670 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 2018 Penny Value