You probably have one in your pocket right now. Or maybe it’s buried in that ceramic jar on your dresser, rattling around with some lint and a stray button. We’re talking about the 1979 D Lincoln penny. At first glance, it looks like every other copper-colored coin from the late seventies. It’s got Lincoln on the front and the Memorial on the back. Boring, right? Well, sort of.
Most of these coins are worth exactly one cent. If you tried to buy a candy bar with one today, you'd need about a hundred more just to cover the tax. But here’s the thing about coin collecting: "common" doesn't always mean "worthless." While billions were minted, the 1979 D holds a specific place in numismatic history because it represents the tail end of an era. It’s one of the last few years the U.S. Mint pumped out pennies made of 95% copper before the Great Zinc Transition of 1982.
What’s the Deal with the "D" Mint Mark?
That little "D" under the date stands for Denver. In 1979, the Denver Mint was working overtime. They churned out 4,153,062,118 of these things. Yes, over four billion. Because the supply is so massive, finding a circulated 1979 D Lincoln penny in your change isn't a "lottery ticket" moment. It’s just Tuesday.
However, the quality control in the late 70s wasn't always top-tier. When you’re striking billions of coins, the dies get tired. They crack. They shift. This creates the "errors" that make a collector's ears perk up. Most people think a rare coin has to be old, like from the 1800s. Honestly, some of the most sought-after modern coins are just mistakes that slipped past a tired worker in Denver forty-some years ago.
Grading and the Quest for "Red"
If you want to know what a 1979 D Lincoln penny is actually worth, you have to talk about color. Copper reacts to oxygen. It turns brown. In the world of coin grading—think professional services like PCGS (Professional Coin Grading Service) or NGC (Numismatic Guaranty Company)—pennies are categorized as Brown (BN), Red-Brown (RB), or Red (RD).
A "Red" 1979 D is the holy grail for this specific year. It means the coin still looks like it just popped out of the mint press—shimmering, lustrous, and orange-gold.
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Most pennies you find are BN. They've been touched by thousands of oily fingers. But if you find a 1979 D that was tucked away in a paper roll or a mint set, you might be looking at a high Mint State (MS) grade. For example, a 1979 D graded at MS67 RD is a different beast entirely. While a raw one is worth a cent, a graded MS67 can fetch $100 or more at auction. If you somehow find an MS68? You’re looking at thousands of dollars. They are incredibly rare because the 1979 strikes were notoriously "mushy" and prone to bag marks—those tiny nicks coins get when they jingle against each other in big canvas sacks.
Rare Errors to Look For
Let’s get into the weeds. If you’re squinting at your 1979 D Lincoln penny with a magnifying glass, you’re looking for weirdness.
Repunched Mint Marks (RPM)
This is a classic. Sometimes the guy at the mint would hit the "D" punch twice. If the second hit didn't line up perfectly with the first, you get a doubled look on the letter. In 1979, there are several known RPM varieties. Look for a "D" that seems to have a shadow or a second loop peeking out from underneath. It’s subtle. You basically need a jeweler’s loupe to see it, but it adds a nice premium for variety hunters.
Die Cracks and Cuds
As those dies hit planchet after planchet, the metal eventually gives up. It cracks. When this happens, the copper flows into the crack during the strike, creating a raised line of metal on the coin’s surface. If a piece of the die actually breaks off, you get a "Cud"—a blob of metal on the edge of the coin that obscures part of the design. These aren't "official" varieties, but error collectors love them.
Double Dies
While 1979 doesn't have a massive, famous doubled die like the 1955 or 1972, minor doubling does exist. Look at the inscriptions "IN GOD WE TRUST" and "LIBERTY." If the letters look thickened or show clear "shelving," you might have found something. Be careful, though. Most of what people think is doubling is actually "machine doubling," which is just the coin vibrating during the strike. Real doubled dies are in the die itself and are worth way more.
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The Copper Value vs. Face Value
Here is a fun fact: a 1979 D penny is worth more than a cent just in metal. Because it’s 95% copper and 5% zinc, its melt value usually hovers around two to three cents, depending on the current market price of copper.
It’s actually illegal to melt them down for profit right now, but many people "hoard" them anyway. They call it "copper stacking." They figure that eventually, the government will retire the penny entirely, and they’ll be sitting on a pile of valuable industrial metal. If you have a gallon jug full of 1979 pennies, you technically have a pile of copper that’s worth double its face value. It’s a slow way to get rich, but hey, it’s a hobby.
How the 1979 D Compares to the San Francisco Mint
Collectors often get confused between the Denver (D) and San Francisco (S) mints from this year. In 1979, San Francisco only made Proof coins. These were intended for collectors, struck twice for extra detail, and have a mirror-like finish.
If you find a 1979 S, it’s a Proof. But there are two types: the "Filled S" (Type 1) and the "Clear S" (Type 2). The Type 2 Clear S is much rarer and more valuable. But the 1979 D? That was the workhorse. It was meant for the streets. That’s why finding a perfect, uncirculated Denver penny is actually harder in some ways than finding a Proof—the Denver coins were never handled with gloves. They were tossed into trucks and shoved into vending machines.
Is It Worth Getting Your Penny Graded?
Honestly? Probably not.
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Unless your 1979 D Lincoln penny looks like it was minted five minutes ago and has zero scratches—even under a microscope—the cost of grading will exceed the value of the coin. Grading usually costs $20 to $50 per coin when you factor in shipping and insurance. If your coin is only worth $5, you’re losing money.
Professional grading is for the best of the best. If you think you have an MS67 or higher, or a major, undeniable error, then go for it. Otherwise, just enjoy it as a piece of history.
The Reality of the "Rare" 1979 Penny Rumors
You might see listings on eBay for a "RARE 1979 D PENNY" priced at $5,000. Don't fall for it. Often, these are just regular pennies listed by people hoping to find someone who doesn't know better. They use buzzwords like "L-on-Rim" (which is actually a common occurrence due to die wear and not a rare error) or "off-center" (when it's only off by 1%, which is standard).
Always check "Sold" listings to see what people are actually paying. Realize that a 1979 D Lincoln penny is a foundational coin for a collection, but it’s rarely a standalone fortune.
Actionable Steps for Your 1979 D Lincoln Penny
If you've got a pile of these coins and want to do something with them, here is the smart way to handle it:
- Sort by Color: Separate the shiny, "new-looking" ones from the brown, circulated ones. The shiny ones are your only candidates for higher value.
- Check the Mint Mark: Use a 10x magnification loupe to look at the "D." You are looking for a clear "D" over another "D."
- Weight Test: If you suspect an error like a penny struck on a dime planchet (it happens!), weigh it. A standard 1979 copper penny should weigh about 3.11 grams. If it weighs 2.5 grams, it might be the wrong metal.
- Look at the Edges: Check for a "Cud" or a major off-center strike where at least 10-15% of the design is missing. Those are the errors people actually pay for.
- Store Properly: If you find a pristine one, don't put it in a plastic baggie. Use a PVC-free coin flip. The chemicals in some plastics can actually turn your "Red" penny "Green" over time, ruining its value.
The 1979 D Lincoln penny reminds us that numismatics isn't always about finding gold doubloons. Sometimes it’s about the hunt for perfection in the most ordinary places. Whether you're keeping them for their copper content or searching for that elusive MS68 grade, these coins are a tangible link to a massive era of American manufacturing. Just keep your expectations realistic and your magnifying glass handy.