A 1989-D copper planchet transitional error has sold for $7,500 at auction — while most circulated examples are worth just one cent. The difference comes down to mint mark, condition, and one extraordinary minting mistake that slipped past inspectors. This guide tells you exactly where your coin lands.
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Go to Calculator →This is the single most valuable variety in the entire 1989 penny series. Run through these four checks to see whether your coin might be one of the rare known examples.
The table below summarizes values across mint marks, conditions, and key varieties. For a full step-by-step illustrated reference to identify 1989 penny varieties and spot key diagnostics, that resource covers each variety in photo detail. Highlighted rows signal the coins worth actively searching for.
| Variety / Mint | Worn (G–F) | Circulated (EF–AU) | Uncirculated (MS60–66) | Gem MS / Top Grade |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1989 Philadelphia (No Mint Mark) | $0.01 | $0.01–$0.50 | $2–$15 | $35–$4,113 (MS67–MS68) |
| 1989-D Denver | $0.01 | $0.01–$0.50 | $2–$18 | $30–$9,200+ (MS67–MS69) |
| 1989-S San Francisco Proof | — | — | $1–$10 (Proof) | $15–$1,380 (PR69–PR70 DCAM) |
| 1989 DDO (Doubled Die Obverse) | $2–$5 | $5–$15 | $15–$30 | $30–$75+ |
| 1989 Off-Center Strike (10–20%) | $5–$15 | $15–$50 | $50–$89+ | $100+ |
| 1989 Die Cud / Die Break | $10 | $10–$50 | $50–$90 | $90–$150+ |
| 1989 Fold-Over Strike | $100 | $200–$500 | $500–$960 | $960–$1,234+ |
| 🔥 1989 Struck on Dime Planchet | $75 | $150–$300 | $300–$500 | $500–$700+ |
| 🏆 1989-D Copper Planchet Error | Extremely rare — nearly all examples are uncirculated or better | $3,525–$7,500+ | ||
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With over 12.6 billion 1989 Lincoln cents struck, even a tiny error rate produced a meaningful number of misfit coins. These are the six varieties that matter most to collectors — ranked by potential value, with specific diagnostics for each.
When the U.S. Mint converted penny composition from 95% copper to copper-plated zinc in mid-1982, leftover copper planchets were supposed to be purged from production. Inexplicably, at least a small number of pre-1983 copper blanks survived in storage at the Denver Mint and were loaded into production in 1989 — seven years after the composition change — where they received full 1989-D die strikes.
Visually, these coins resemble any 1989-D penny, but the color is noticeably richer and more uniform — consistent with the deeper copper-red of pre-1982 cents. The most reliable diagnostic is weight: genuine copper planchet errors weigh approximately 3.1 grams on a digital scale accurate to 0.01g, compared to exactly 2.50 grams for a standard copper-plated zinc cent. A magnet will not attract either type, but the weight difference is definitive.
Collector demand is driven by the parallel to the legendary 1943 copper cent and 1944 steel cent — transitional errors that represent composition-change mistakes. Only a small number of 1989-D copper planchet examples have been confirmed by PCGS or NGC. When they do surface, bidding is fierce: a Stack's Bowers sale in 2014 realized $22,325 for an MS62 Brown example, and a 2018 auction brought $7,500 for an MS65 Red specimen.
While billions of 1989 Philadelphia cents were struck, achieving a gem Mint State grade with the Red color designation requires that a coin avoided all contact with other coins and surfaces from the moment it left the die. Even a single bag mark or carbon spot drops a coin below the top-tier grades where significant premiums exist. The gap between MS66 and MS67 — which can mean the difference between a $15 coin and a $35+ coin — makes this a meaningful pursuit for registry set collectors.
At MS68 Red, the coin must show no distracting contact marks visible without magnification and retain at least 95% original copper-red luster. The obverse hub details — Lincoln's ear, bowtie, and the letters of IN GOD WE TRUST — must be sharp and fully struck. Strike quality on 1989 Philadelphia cents is generally good but not exceptional, and full strike combined with pristine surfaces creates the conditions for an MS68.
The auction record for a 1989 Philadelphia cent is $4,113 for an MS68 Red example sold at Heritage Auctions in June 2013, as documented on PCGS CoinFacts (PCGS #3077). Recent secondary market data shows MS68 RD coins regularly trading between $300 and $400, making them genuinely scarce in that grade. Most 1989 cents submitted to PCGS grade below MS67.
Multiple doubled die obverse varieties exist for the 1989 Lincoln cent from both the Philadelphia and Denver mints. Wexler's die variety reference catalogues at least nine Philadelphia DDO varieties (WDDO-001 through WDDO-009) plus several doubled working hub varieties (WWHO-001, WWHO-002) that affect all dies cut from the same hub. The WDDO-003 is designated a "Best Of" variety by collectors for its relatively strong spread visible under a 10× loupe.
The doubling on most 1989 DDOs appears as a mechanical shift — extra thickness or a notch — on the date digits, particularly the second "9" in "1989," or on the letters of IN GOD WE TRUST. Hub doubling varieties (WWH) show spreading on the reverse legend E PLURIBUS UNUM and the Memorial columns. Die markers for the WDDO-001 include a short die crack from the bottom of the last "8" in the date and a die gouge north of the "R" in LIBERTY.
Most circulated 1989 DDO examples bring only modest premiums — $10 to $15 over face value. The real upside comes in uncirculated grades, where a confirmed DDO variety in MS65 Red can reach $30–$75 or more depending on the specific variety's rarity and visual strength of the doubling. These are coins actively searched by variety collectors who buy rolls and bank bags specifically looking for them.
An off-center strike occurs when the planchet is not properly seated between the dies at the moment of impact. The collar that normally keeps the planchet centered either failed to engage or the blank slipped prior to striking, causing the die impression to fall off-center relative to the coin's edge. The result is a coin where the design image is shifted, leaving a blank crescent of planchet metal on one or more sides.
Off-center strikes are expressed as a percentage of how far the design is displaced. A 5% shift is barely noticeable; a 20% shift creates a clearly visible blank arc. The most desirable off-center cents retain the full date in a visible and readable position — coins where the date has been struck off the planchet entirely are worth significantly less because the year cannot be confirmed without the date. Major off-center examples (50% or more) with a visible date command the highest premiums.
Documented 1989 sales include $89 for a 20% off-center example at a 2021 auction, and $20 for a 10% off-center example on eBay. Higher-grade examples with strong off-centering and a clearly visible full date represent the top of the value range for this variety. Because billions of 1989 cents were struck, off-center pieces do turn up in rolls and collections with some regularity.
Die cuds are one of the most visually distinctive mint errors a collector can find. They occur when a section of the die — typically along the rim — breaks away entirely. The broken area no longer strikes relief into the coin; instead, metal flows into the void left by the missing die piece, creating a raised blob of featureless metal (the "cud") that extends from the rim inward over the design. The coin's edge at that point appears normal while the surface above it is rounded and blank.
Smaller die breaks, visible as raised lines running across the coin's surface (die cracks), are far more common and carry minimal premiums. A true cud — where the break reaches the rim and creates a void zone — is the high-value type. Cuds on 1989 pennies have been documented covering letters of IN GOD WE TRUST, particularly on Denver-mint examples. A well-known example showing the cud over those letters is catalogued as CU-1c-1989-04 by error coin researchers.
Value is strongly tied to the size and location of the cud. Minor rim cuds in circulated condition start around $10. Major cuds covering significant design elements in uncirculated condition can reach $90–$150 or more. Because die cuds occur progressively — as the die deteriorates with use — later-state examples may show more pronounced cuds than early-state pieces from the same die. Error coin collectors actively seek out dramatic, large cuds for their visual impact and documentary interest.
This wrong-planchet error occurs when a copper-nickel clad dime blank (intended for a Roosevelt dime) enters the cent press and receives a full 1989 Lincoln cent die strike. The result is startling: a coin that looks like a penny design but is smaller, lighter, and silver-colored. The dime planchet measures approximately 17.9mm in diameter versus 19.0mm for a cent, so the Lincoln design is squeezed and some peripheral elements may be cut off at the smaller edge.
Recognition is immediate and unmistakable. The coin's silver color — entirely different from any copper or zinc-toned cent — is visible at a glance. Weighing confirms the error: a dime planchet weighs approximately 2.27 grams versus 2.50 grams for a standard cent. The reeded edge of the dime planchet is typically present, since the cent collar (which produces a smooth edge) may not fully contain the smaller blank during striking, allowing the preformed reeding to survive.
Wrong-planchet errors are among the most dramatic and crowd-pleasing mint errors, and they carry strong premiums relative to their obscurity outside specialist circles. A 1989 penny struck on a dime planchet graded MS65 at auction realized $370, and premium-grade examples have approached $700 or more. The visual impact and immediate identifiability make them perennial favorites with both new and experienced error coin collectors.
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| Mint | Mint Mark | Strike Type | Mintage | Typical Circulated Value |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Philadelphia | None | Business Strike | 7,261,535,000 | $0.01 |
| Denver | D | Business Strike | 5,345,467,111 | $0.01 |
| San Francisco | S | Proof | 3,220,194 | $1–$10 (proof sets) |
| Total (all mints) | — | — | 12,610,222,305 | — |
Lincoln's cheekbone and jaw are flat, with the hair above the ear merged into a smooth surface. The letters of IN GOD WE TRUST may be partially worn. On the reverse, the Memorial columns are faint or merged. Value: face value ($0.01) regardless of mint mark.
Some original detail remains in Lincoln's hair above the ear and in the Memorial's column spaces. High points show obvious wear but lower-relief features are sharp. Light contact marks are present. Value: still face value in most cases; AU58 specimens may bring small premiums.
No wear on any surface — only bag marks and contact marks distinguish MS60 from MS66. Lincoln's hair strands above the ear are fully defined. Color designation (Red, Red-Brown, or Brown) starts to matter significantly. MS65 Red pennies bring $10–$14; MS66 Red brings $15–$20.
Near-perfect surfaces with no distracting marks visible to the naked eye. Cartwheel luster is complete. MS67 Red examples bring $35–$50. MS68 Red is extremely scarce — the auction record is $4,113. The Red (RD) designation requires 95%+ original copper color preserved.
🔎 CoinHix makes it easy to compare your coin's surfaces against graded reference examples and get a quick condition estimate — a coin identifier and value app.
The go-to venue for high-grade (MS67+) and confirmed error coins. Heritage has handled multiple record-breaking 1989 cent sales including the $4,113 MS68 RD result. Their numismatic specialists will assess your coin and recommend appropriate reserves. Best for coins expected to bring $200 or more — smaller lots may not justify consignment fees.
Ideal for mid-range certified coins (MS65–MS67) and confirmed error coins where photos can establish authenticity. Active buyers specifically search completed listings to check what 1989 pennies are recently sold prices for 1989 Lincoln cents in MS-RD grades. Certified (PCGS/NGC slabbed) coins consistently realize higher prices than raw examples. Always use high-resolution photos showing both sides and any slab label.
Quick and convenient for circulated coins or modest-grade uncirculated examples where auction fees would exceed any premium. Dealers typically offer wholesale prices (50–70% of retail), so manage expectations accordingly. Useful if you want immediate cash without waiting for an auction cycle. Bring any documentation or grading service certificates you have.
The collector community on Reddit is knowledgeable and will give free second opinions on potential errors before you invest in professional grading. Post clear photos of both sides plus a photo of your coin on a scale for copper planchet candidates. Not a selling venue per se, but excellent for preliminary authentication and value reality-checks before committing to a grading submission.
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