1944-D Lincoln Cent : History & Value

By Charles Morgan and Hubert Walker for CoinWeek Notes …..
After a yr the place every of the three mints produced one cent cash on experimental zinc-coated metal planchets, the bronze cent returned for 1944. The 1944-D Lincoln Cent has a mintage of 430,578,000 items – a large sum, however just one third of the sum of Lincoln Cents struck that yr on the Philadelphia Mint.

The Treasury Division couldn’t wait to place an finish to the metal cent, which didn’t carry out as much as expectations. On December 15, 1943, the Treasury notified the general public of the shift again to the bronze cent. President Franklin D. Roosevelt signed the mandatory authorizations three days later.

Manufacturing of a 95% copper -5% zinc coin commenced on January 1, 1944. The United States Mint purportedly used spent brass cartridges from the Pacific to strike the brand new cents, however numismatic researcher David W. Lange has prompt that reclaimed conflict supplies probably solely comprised a portion of the copper used to strike cash in 1944.

How A lot Is the 1944-D Lincoln Cent in Copper Value?

The 1944-D Lincoln Cent was launched into circulation the yr of its manufacturing and remained in circulation till properly after the 1959 transition from the Wheat Cent to the Memorial Cent. At the same time as attrition ran its course, giant portions of the date had been held again to be bought as generic wheaties. To today, the 1944 and 1944-D repeatedly flip up in circulated grades in “unsearched rolls” or generic pre-1950 cent tons.

A run-of-the-mill circulated instance may promote on eBay for between 50¢ and $1. In Mint State Crimson, nonetheless, the worth of the 1944-D Lincoln cent will increase to about $12.50 in MS65RD and about $150 in MS67RD. Uncirculated rolls in authentic Crimson survive and are steadily listed on eBay for costs beginning at $50.

Mint State Gems in Crimson are widespread as much as the grade of MS67. Lately, the inhabitants of MS67+RD cash has elevated steadily, and consequently the costs have dropped dramatically for these premium Gems. Cash that bought for $1,200 to $1,500 ten years in the past have extra not too long ago bought for $300 – $400. Fewer than ten cash have been licensed as MS68RD by the main grading providers. This present day, there’s a large disparity within the costs realized between PCGS, CACG, and NGC, with PCGS cash and PCGS + CAC cash promoting for a premium.

We anticipate continued will increase within the licensed inhabitants of the 1944-D Lincoln Cent, and though most cash will grade MS66RD or under, some will grade MS67+RD or MS68RD. In our overview of current public sale listings, most examples have some extent of recognizing.

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Market Information and Noteworthy Specimens

The NGC MS68RD inhabitants has remained fixed since we surveyed the highest pops in March 2024. The PCGS pop has risen from 3 to five over that interval.

High Inhabitants: PCGS MS68RD (5, 2/2025), NGC MS68RD (5, 2/2025), and CAC MS67+RD (2, 2/2025).

• PCGS MS68RD #50822241: GreatCollections, November 17, 2024, Lot 1640773 – $7,031.25.
• PCGS MS68RD #50625348: GreatCollections, November 10, 2024, Lot 1693844 – View.
• NGC MS68RD #4834016-002: GreatCollections, November 5, 2023, Lot 1443663 – View.
• PCGS MS68RD #46639839: GreatCollections, June 25, 2023, Lot 1338451 – $12,947.62.
• NGC MS68RD #4920535-002: GreatCollections, August 30, 2020, Lot 671590 – View.
• PCGS MS67+RD #41419683: GreatCollections, August 8, 2021, Lot 1033684 – View; GreatCollections, October 9, 2022, Lot 1240673 – View; Heritage Auctions, November 6, 2023, Lot 92153 – $960. Colour is mellowing.
• PCGS MS67+RD #25628166: Jerald L. Martin; Heritage Auctions, January 22, 2019, Lot 27099 – $312; Heritage Auctions, March 15, 2022, Lot 25097 – $396. Jerald L. Martin Assortment on insert.
• PCGS MS67+RD CAC #25627793: Heritage Auctions, June 8, 2016, Lot 3166 – $705; Heritage Auctions, Could 9, 2022, Lot 46103 – $481.20. Copper spot above R of LIBERTY.
• PCGS MS67+RD CAC #35811378: GreatCollections, October 14, 2018, Lot 621359 – View; “The ACW Assortment,” Heritage Auctions, June 11, 2019, Lot 25206 – $396.
• PCGS MS67+RD CAC #83889629: Heritage Auctions, December 12, 2017, Lot 23772 – $456; GreatCollections, April 7, 2019, Lot 685348 – View.
• PCGS MS67+RD #82902366: Heritage Auctions, July 9, 2017, Lot 23073 – $399.50.
• PCGS MS67+RD CAC #25626525: GreatCollections, February 7, 2016, Lot 335014 – View; Heritage Auctions, June 4, 2017, Lot 21036 – $493.50. Clear coin throughout. Tiny tick on N of CENT.
• PCGS MS67+RD CAC #25627794: Heritage Auctions, July 7, 2016, Lot 3143 – $470; “The Centurion Assortment,”  GreatCollections, February 25, 2018, Lot 536762 – View; “The Bellewood Assortment of Lincoln Cents,” GreatCollections, March 14, 2021, Lot 950282 – View.
• PCGS MS67+RD CAC #25628165: Heritage Auctions, April 28, 2016, Lot 3853 – $1,292.50; “The GL & SL Stonebarger Assortment,” Heritage Auctions, June 22, 2021, Lot 27180 – $396. Diagonal hit under IN GOD.
• PCGS MS67+RD CAC #25658391: Heritage Auctions, December 4, 2015, Lot 3605 – $998.75.
• PCGS MS67+RD CAC #31592220: Heritage Auctions, July 10, 2015, Lot 3528 – $2,350. Tiny copper spot above IB of LIBERTY. Tiny tick to the suitable of Lincoln’s mouth.
• PCGS MS67+RD CAC #25380765: Heritage Auctions, November 1, 2013, Lot 3109 – $1,233.75.

1944-D Varieties

A number of attention-grabbing 1944-D Lincoln Cent varieties have been recognized. The main grading providers will usually certify well-liked varieties listed within the Cherrypicker’s Information to Uncommon Die Types of United States Cash. Extra varieties are enumerated within the CONECA Master List.

1944-D Lincoln Cent. Doubled Die Obverse. FS-101

Distortion is seen on the date, which is thicker than regular, and in LIBERTY and IN GOD WE TRUST.

• PCGS MS66RD #46329556: Heritage Auctions, November 6, 2023, Lot 92154 – $516.

1944-D/D Lincoln Cent. FS-502

The underneath D is positioned barely greater than the distinguished D mintmark. It is a pretty widespread selection.

• PCGS MS67RD CAC #16862633: Heritage Auctions, September 8, 2011, Lot 3222 – $2,300.

1944-D/S Lincoln Cent. FS-511

CONECA OMM-001. This overmintmark selection is definitely acknowledged underneath magnification as remnants of the S mintmark may be seen beneath and barely above the D. This selection was found in 1962 by Delma Okay. Romines and is uncommon in Mint State Crimson. Information Ebook selection.

• CACG MS67RD #355086936: As PCGS MS67RD CAC #37718128: GreatCollections, October 10, 2021, Lot 705920 – $30,949.88. As CACG #355086936. GreatCollections, March 31, 2024, Lot 1560137 – $21,937.50.
• PCGS MS67RD #45723911: As PCGS MS67RD #18397321. “The Bender Household Assortment — Publish-1932 Lincoln Cents,” Heritage Auctions, December 15, 2022, Lot 3334 – $15,600. Bender Assortment on insert. As PCGS MS67RD #45723911. Heritage Auctions, November 6, 2023, Lot 92157 – $23,400. Bender Assortment on insert. Copper spot between Y of LIBERTY and Lincoln’s coat. On the reverse, there’s a copper spot current between the 2 Ns of ONE CENT.
• PCGS MS66+RD CAC #04021790: Heritage Auctions, January 13, 2022, Lot 3228 – $10,800. Diagonal hit throughout jaw. Diagonal mark at 3:30. Small copper spot at 8 o’clock on the reverse. Diagonal darkish mark under R of AMERICA. Two small discoloration spots above NE of CENT.
• PCGS MS66RD #9851054: Heritage Auctions, January 21, 2021, Lot 3369 – $1,560. Darkish splotch above LIBERTY. Scattered copper spots throughout the obverse. On the reverse, a number of hits on the O of ONE.
• PCGS MS66RD #35366878: “The ACW Assortment,” Heritage Auctions, June 7, 2019, Lot 3485 – $1,800; Heritage Auctions, October 18, 2019, Lot 3447 – $2,640. Copper spot under B of LIBERTY. Two copper spots on the prime of Lincoln’s head. Diagonal streak above LIBERTY. Copper spot in proper obverse discipline to the suitable of Lincoln’s beard. On the reverse, scattered copper spots.
• NGC MS66RD #4345239-001: Heritage Auctions, April 27, 2018, Lot 4607 – $3,360; Heritage Auctions, January 31, 2019, Lot 3132 – $2,280; Heritage Auctions, June 7, 2019, Lot 3484 – $1,800; GreatCollections, December 15, 2019, Lot 778366 – View. Copper splotch on the tip of the lapel. Copper spots on the rim at 8 o’clock. One other copper spot at rim simply above 3 o’clock. Small ticks on beard. Small diagonal hit on cheek. Not robust for the grade.
• PCGS MS66RD #34359831: Heritage Auctions, January 4, 2018, Lot 4156 – $4,080. Skinny diagonal ticks in left obverse discipline. On the reverse, there’s a giant darkish copper splotch at 4 o’clock to wheat kernel.
• PCGS MS66RD CAC #84234278: Heritage Auctions, August 2, 2017, Lot 3900 – $8,225.
• PCGS MS66RD CAC #4302823: Heritage Auctions, July 12, 2012, Lot 3225 – $13,800. Copper spot under left wheat kernel.
• PCGS MS66RD #12460114: “The Jack Lee Property Assortment, Lincoln Cent Registry Set” Heritage Auctions, December 4, 2008, Lot 245 – $15,525; Heritage Auctions, February 2009, Lot 529; Heritage Auctions, February 3, 2011, Lot 3146 – $16,100. Jack Lee on insert. Discoloration to the suitable of Lincoln’s brow.
• PCGS MS66RD #06820575: “The Jack Lee Property Assortment,” Heritage Auctions, February 5, 2009, Lot 529 – $9,200.
• NGC MS66RD #956171-011: Heritage Auctions, February 16, 2008, Lot 3235 – $1,495. Scattered copper spots all through the obverse and reverse.
• PCGS MS66RD #3527623: Heritage Auctions, September 26, 2002, Lot 5625 – $10,062.50. Gentle discoloration at and above N of ONE.

1944-D/S Lincoln Cent. FS-512

CONECA OMM-002. A weaker D/S overmintmark selection. Glass could also be essential to see the faint S that protrudes barely to the left of the D mintmark.

• PCGS MS67+RD #35345934: Heritage Auctions, August 14, 2019, Lot 3136 – $8,400. Two small hits at Lincoln’s temple. Small copper spot in left obverse discipline at 10 o’clock.
• PCGS MS66RD #81082366: Heritage Auctions, July 7, 2016, Lot 3144 – $940.
• PCGS MS66RD #33329225: Heritage Auctions, March 3, 2016, Lot 3565 – $1,351.25.
• PCGS MS66RD CAC #25308331: Heritage Auctions, July 10, 2014, Lot 3094 – $2,115.
• PCGS MS65RD #25384151: Heritage Auctions, December 5, 2013, Lot 3127 – $1,527.50.
• PCGS MS65RD #06635833: Heritage Auctions, January 6, 2011, Lot 4256 – $3,450.
• NGC MS65RD #1611470-006: “The Brenda John Assortment,” Heritage Auctions, June 3, 2010, Lot 171 – $1,495. Discoloration at 9 o’clock and between the 44.
• PCGS MS65RD #12400082: Heritage Auctions, July 9, 2009, Lot 160 – $10,350. Carbon staining alongside the left obverse discipline.

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Coin Specs

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