1995 Penny Value: How Much Is It Worth Today?

Studying a coin’s history is important for knowledge and potential profit, as rarity and demand can affect its value. The 1995 Penny, specifically the DDO in Philadelphia and Denver, initially sold for high prices due to their rarity but decreased in value as they became more common.

To understand the significance of the 1995 Penny value, we have prepared this review for you as we discuss its variations, rarity, errors, and values. Let’s get in!

1995 Penny Value Chart

1995 Lincoln Memorial Penny Value Chart
Mint Mark	MS64	MS65	MS66	MS67	MS68
1995 No Mint Mark Penny Value (Red)	$0.50	$0.60	$5.40	$13.50	$33.75
1995 D  Penny Value	$0.50	$0.60	$2.65	$20.25	$130
	PR65	PR66	PR67	PR68	PR69
1995 S Proof  Penny Value	$0.75	$1.50	$2.65	$4.05	$5.40

1995 No Mint Mark Penny Value

The 1995 Lincoln Memorial Penny was made in Philadelphia and has a value of one cent, or $0.01, in reddish color. It has a total mintage of 6,411,440,000. That’s a whole lot of pennies!

The 1995 penny is part of the Lincoln Memorial series from 1959 to 2008. It’s a round coin with a diameter of 19mm and a weight of 2.5 grams. It’s what’s known as a business strike type, which just means it was made for regular, everyday use.

Now, the coin’s composition is 99.2% zinc and 0.8% copper. On the obverse side, you’ll see a familiar face—Abraham Lincoln! The image was designed by Victor Brenner, and you’ll also see the inscriptions “IN GOD WE TRUST,” “LIBERTY,” and “1995 “.

On the reverse side, you’ll find the Lincoln Memorial, designed by Frank Gasparro. There are a few inscriptions on this side, too — “E PLURIBUS UNUM,” “ONE CENT,” and “UNITED STATES OF AMERICA.” As this was minted in Philadelphia, you will find no mint mark on this variation of the 1995 penny.

But there were three variations of the 1995 pennies from Philadelphia, which are all Doubled Die Obverse (DDO) but differ in colors, namely: DDO BN (Brown), DDO RB (Red Brown), and DDO RD (Red).

The 1995 DDO cents are called a doubled die because the design elements on the coin’s obverse – specifically, the inscriptions “LIBERTY” and “IN GOD WE TRUST”—exhibit a doubling effect quite noticeable to the naked eye. This doubling occurs when the coin is struck, resulting from an error in the minting process where the die was struck twice in slightly different positions, causing the design to appear doubled.

The 1995 DDO cent is particularly noteworthy because it was the last doubled die variety of its kind. After 1995, the U.S. Mint switched to a single-hub method of producing dies, making such errors less likely. As a result, the 1995 DDO cent is a unique and rare coin that holds a special place in the hearts of collectors.

When the 1995 DDO cent was first discovered, it was thought to be a very rare variety that would be difficult to find. However, as more and more people began searching through their coin collections, tens of thousands of these coins were eventually found. This high availability has made the 1995 DDO cent an easily obtainable and reasonably priced addition to any collection. Despite its abundance, however, due to its unique and interesting history, the 1995 DDO cent remains a highly sought-after coin.

These variations greatly affect the 1995 penny values, with the DDO Red being the most valuable. Generally, a 1995 penny in the circulated condition is worth its face value of one cent. However, some 1995 pennies are worth more than their face value. The 1995 DDO (Doubled Die Obverse) penny, which has a noticeable doubling of the numbers and letters on the obverse side of the coin, can be worth anywhere from $13.50 to $156.00, depending on its condition and whether it is a B.N. (Brown), R.B. (Red/Brown), or RD (Red) variety.

The 1995 RD penny, the most common variety, is worth between $0.25 and $33.75, depending on its condition. The 1995 DDO BN is worth between $13.50 and $101.00, while the 1995 DDO RB is worth between $22.95 and $156.00.

In addition, two 1995 pennies were sold in separate auctions by the same auction house, Heritage Auctions. The first penny, sold in June 2021, is described as a “Double Die Obverse” and has a grade of MS68, indicating that it is in excellent condition. The term “Double Die” refers to a minting error where the image on the die used to strike the coin is doubled, resulting in a distorted and slightly shifted image.

The obverse side, which features the portrait of Abraham Lincoln, displays this error. The penny is also described as “Red,” which means it has its original copper-red color. It was sold in April 2019. However, it is described as “Doubled Die,” slightly different from the first penny. In this case, the image on the die used to strike the coin is doubled, but the doubling is less pronounced compared to the first penny.

But those are not the priciest 1995 pennies ever sold. In fact, the most valuable of the DDO 1995 variations. The two highest 1995 penny sold are a 1995 Lincoln Cent with a doubled die obverse (FS-101 variety) sold in August 2019 for $4,560 at Stack’s Bowers auction. Another 1995 Lincoln Cent with a doubled die obverse, graded as MS69 RD, sold for a slightly lower price of $3,878 at Legend Rare Coin Auctions in July 2020.

1995 D Penny Value

Minted in Denver, the 1995 penny with a “D” mint mark has a mintage of 7,128,560,000. Some of these variations also have DDO examples, but it was more evident in the Philadelphia pennies than in the Denver ones.

Regarding value, the 1995 D penny is a modern coin with a relatively low numismatic value compared to other coins. Its value is primarily determined by its condition or grade. According to the Certified Coin Exchange (CGP) and the Greysheet price list, which are widely used references in the coin-collecting community, the 1995 D penny in MS68 grade has a retail value of $130.00 and a wholesale value of $100.00. In contrast, the same coin in lower grades, such as MS67, MS66, MS65, and so on, have significantly lower values ranging from $20.25 for MS67 to as low as $0.25 for MS60.

In 2013, a 1995 D penny was sold at Heritage Auctions for $1,880. This coin is graded as MS68+ by the Professional Coin Grading Service (PCGS) and is in red color. Another 1995 D penny in the same grade was sold in 2012 at Heritage Auctions for $1,092.

In 2022 on its most recent sale, a 1995 D (MS69 Red) penny was sold at Heritage Auctions for $960. This particular coin has a census of 6/0 by the Numismatic Guaranty Corporation (NGC) and a population of 4/0 by PCGS.

1995 S Proof Penny Value

The 1995 penny variation with the lowest mintage is a proof strike variety produced by the San Francisco Mint, with only 2,797,481 ever minted.

The values of the 1995 S Proof pennies were determined based on the condition of the coins, with the highest grade being PR69 and the lowest being PR60. The retail values for these coins ranged from $5.40 for PR69 to $0.75 for PR60, while the wholesale prices ranged from $4.00 for PR69 to $0.50 for PR60. Keep in mind that the retail values were typically higher than the wholesale prices, as they included the cost of the coin plus any markup by the seller, while wholesale prices were closer to the actual cost of the coin.

In March 2011, Stack’s Bowers auction house sold a 1995 S Lincoln Cent, graded as Proof-70 RD Deep Cameo by PCGS, for an astounding $264. This coin’s excellent condition and rarity made it a highly coveted item among collectors, driving up its auction price to new heights.

Another 1995 S Lincoln Cent, also graded as PR70 Red Deep Cameo, was sold at a Heritage Auctions event in March 2012 for $126. This sale shows that the 1995 S Lincoln Cent still commands a high price, even if it falls short of the record set by Stack’s Bowers. Another Heritage Auctions event in July 2011 also saw a 1995 S Lincoln Cent of the same grade sold at the same price, highlighting the consistent demand for these rare 1995 pennies among collectors.

1995 Penny Value Grading

The 1995 penny, like many other copper coins, is graded based on its color, which can significantly impact its value. There are three color designations for copper coins: brown, red, brown, and full red.

Brown coins have lost 95% or more of their original red surface and are mostly brown. These coins typically have the lowest value among the three color designations. On the other hand, red-brown coins exhibit between 5% and 95% of their original red surface, with the remaining part showing a brownish color.

Finally, full red coins exhibit 95% or more of their original red luster and are the most valuable of the three color designations. You can check out this video to get a visual representation of the different grades and colors of the coins.

Rare 1995 Lincoln Memorial Penny Error Lists

1. 1995 Penny Double Die Error

The double die error in 1995 pennies with no mint and the D mint mark, also known as the DDO error, is a rare error that occurs during the die striking process when a doubled image of the design is imprinted on the coin. This error affects the obverse or front side of the penny and can be identified by examining the mint date and the letters U and S in the word “TRUST” on the penny.

In the case of the 1995 (no mint mark) penny, the DDO error can be found with doubling on both the words “IN GOD WE TRUST” and “LIBERTY”, while the 1995 D penny has its own unique DDO error. The value of a DDO 1995 (no mint mark) penny can range from $33.75 to $2,250 depending on its condition, with some coins reaching even higher prices at auction.

Although some DDO errors can be detected without a microscope, examining the coin under magnification is often necessary to identify the error. In 2017, a DDO 1995 (no mint mark) penny in MS69 condition sold for an impressive $5,052.50 at auction.

2.1995 Penny Shifted Capped Error

A shifted capped die error is a minting error that occurs when the die, or metal stamp, is used to strike a coin shift during the minting process. In the case of the 1995 Lincoln Cent, this error resulted in the cap on Lincoln’s head is shifted to the right and downward, causing the doubling of some letters and numbers and, in some cases, the absence of certain details due to incomplete striking.

The doubling effect occurs because the shifted die strikes the coin twice, slightly overlapping the design. This can cause letters and numbers to appear doubled and make some details appear thicker or more pronounced. On the other hand, some areas of the coin may not be struck fully, resulting in missing details.

Watch this video for more fascinating 1995 penny errors.

1995 Penny FAQs

Q1: Is there a 1995 penny worth $5000?

No, there are no 1995 pennies worth $5000. While MS69 RD pennies have sold for prices ranging from $1,100 to $5,000 in the past, current pricing from 2022 and 2023 data indicates that the highest price for a 1995 penny in this grade is only sold for $ 4,560. Quietly close to $5,000, note that this was a scarce DDO cent from 1995. In order to get one with a $5000 price tag, you have to get a coin with much more rarity than this one from 2019.

Q2: How do you tell if a 1995 penny is a double die?

The first thing to look for is doubling the lettering on the words “LIBERTY” and “IN GOD WE” on the obverse. This doubling should be visible to the naked eye and more pronounced than the normal slight variations in stamping.

Another thing to consider is the composition of the coin. In 1982, the U.S. Mint changed the penny’s composition from solid copper to a copper-plated zinc coin. If the penny in question is 1995, it should be composed of copper-plated zinc.