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1912 Lincoln Cent Date Guide

Titanic disaster and busy Mint production

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1912 overview Mintage, history, and notes for this year's cents

Philadelphia (MS)

Photo Credit: Cotgreave Collection

(click images above to see larger view)

Mintage
68,153,060
Mintage Ranking for Type
(78 of 140)

Denver (MS)

Photo Credit: Cotgreave Collection

(click images above to see larger view)

Mintage
10,411,000
Mintage Ranking for Type
(123 of 140)

San Francisco (MS)

Photo Credit: Cotgreave Collection

(click images above to see larger view)

Mintage
4,431,000
Mintage Ranking for Type
(133 of 140)

Philadelphia (PR)

Photo Credit: PCGS Coinfacts

(click images above to see larger view)

Mintage
2,145
Mintage Ranking for Type
(22 of 26)

1912 in history

1912 in history
  • Philadelphia, Denver, and San Francisco Mints continued large Lincoln cent production for a growing national economy.
  • The RMS Titanic struck an iceberg and sank on April 15, killing more than 1,500 passengers and crew.
  • Arizona became the 48th state on February 14.
  • New Mexico became the 47th state on January 6.
  • Woodrow Wilson was elected president in November, defeating William Howard Taft and Theodore Roosevelt.
  • The National Biscuit Company introduced the Oreo cookie.
  • Albania declared independence from the Ottoman Empire on November 28.
  • Fenway Park in Boston opened on April 20.

1912 Lincoln cent year notes

For the most part production quality for 1912 is roughly the same as with 1911. Philadelphia minted coins tend to be of higher quality than the branch mint coins. The main difference this year is that planchet quality seems to be a little better than before.

1912S-1MM-001 is one of the nicest early repunched mint marks. It is linked to all the other die variety systems. It is rather scarce, but enough determination will eventually surface one of them.

Die varieties are scarce in number on 1912 cents and mintmark varieties are generally lackluster, although one S mint repunched mintmark does make enough of an impact to easily warrant premium value and collectibility. 1912 San Francisco minted cents are also somewhat scarce, especially in grades above very fine.

Watch 1912 plain cents for satin proofs — although very uncommon, they have been found offered as business strike coins.

Proof cents will have exceptionally wide and flattened rims from a powerful strike and special dies. If you have to ask if your coin is proof, it probably is not. They are generally pretty easy to spot. Beside the squared and very sharp rims, the design will be just a little grainy looking with no die wear at all. There were not enough coins produced to introduce any die wear.

Images/Mintage Mint issues and coin images for 1912

Philadelphia (MS)

Photo Credit: Cotgreave Collection

(click images above to see larger view)

Mintage
68,153,060
Mintage Ranking for Type
(78 of 140)

Denver (MS)

Photo Credit: Cotgreave Collection

(click images above to see larger view)

Mintage
10,411,000
Mintage Ranking for Type
(123 of 140)

San Francisco (MS)

Photo Credit: Cotgreave Collection

(click images above to see larger view)

Mintage
4,431,000
Mintage Ranking for Type
(133 of 140)

Philadelphia (PR)

Photo Credit: PCGS Coinfacts

(click images above to see larger view)

Mintage
2,145
Mintage Ranking for Type
(22 of 26)
1912 in history What else was happening that year
1912 in history
  • Philadelphia, Denver, and San Francisco Mints continued large Lincoln cent production for a growing national economy.
  • The RMS Titanic struck an iceberg and sank on April 15, killing more than 1,500 passengers and crew.
  • Arizona became the 48th state on February 14.
  • New Mexico became the 47th state on January 6.
  • Woodrow Wilson was elected president in November, defeating William Howard Taft and Theodore Roosevelt.
  • The National Biscuit Company introduced the Oreo cookie.
  • Albania declared independence from the Ottoman Empire on November 28.
  • Fenway Park in Boston opened on April 20.
1912 cent notes Collector notes for this year's Lincoln cents

For the most part production quality for 1912 is roughly the same as with 1911. Philadelphia minted coins tend to be of higher quality than the branch mint coins. The main difference this year is that planchet quality seems to be a little better than before.

1912S-1MM-001 is one of the nicest early repunched mint marks. It is linked to all the other die variety systems. It is rather scarce, but enough determination will eventually surface one of them.

Die varieties are scarce in number on 1912 cents and mintmark varieties are generally lackluster, although one S mint repunched mintmark does make enough of an impact to easily warrant premium value and collectibility. 1912 San Francisco minted cents are also somewhat scarce, especially in grades above very fine.

Watch 1912 plain cents for satin proofs — although very uncommon, they have been found offered as business strike coins.

Proof cents will have exceptionally wide and flattened rims from a powerful strike and special dies. If you have to ask if your coin is proof, it probably is not. They are generally pretty easy to spot. Beside the squared and very sharp rims, the design will be just a little grainy looking with no die wear at all. There were not enough coins produced to introduce any die wear.

Design types Obverse and reverse engravings in use for 1912

Obverse design types (ODT)

Reverse design types (RDT)

See the design types reference. Design types identify engraved designs; when differing designs create collectible alternatives within a year, see Lincoln cent design varieties.

Mint mark types Punch styles used on 1912 Lincoln cents
  • Early-D mint mark
    Early-D — 1911–1920 · business · 1922 · business · 1924–1933 · business
  • Early-S mint mark
    Early-S — 1909–1916 · business

See the mint mark types reference.

Typical values Series price guide for regular-issue 1912 cents

1912 Lincoln cents from the CopperCoins series price guide (August/September 2026 edition) — approximate values only, not offers to buy or sell. Business strikes show separate BN, RB, and RD lines where priced.

Business strike

Issue G4 VG8 F12 VF20 EF40 EF45
1912-P BN 1.55 2.15 3.90 9.55 17.50 18
1912-P RB
1912-P RD
1912-D BN 9 13.25 20.25 43 76.50 85.50
1912-D RB
1912-D RD
1912-S BN 17.75 22.50 27.25 43.75 65 71
1912-S RB
1912-S RD
Issue G4 VG8 F12 VF20 EF40 EF45
1912-P BN 1.55 2.15 3.90 9.55 17.50 18
1912-P RB
1912-P RD
1912-D BN 9 13.25 20.25 43 76.50 85.50
1912-D RB
1912-D RD
1912-S BN 17.75 22.50 27.25 43.75 65 71
1912-S RB
1912-S RD

Proof

Issue PR60 PR61 PR62
1912-P BN 340 330 360
1912-P RB 365 360 480
1912-P RD 640
Issue PR60 PR61 PR62
1912-P BN 340 330 360
1912-P RB 365 360 480
1912-P RD 640
Die varieties in the catalog Attributed 1912 dies by mint and variety type

Our attribution catalog for 1912—doubled dies, repunched mint marks, and related varieties documented by die number. This is specialist research beyond regular issue Lincoln cents.

Search all 1912 dies Variety value guide for 1912

Catalogued dies for 1912

Number of assigned dies in the CopperCoins catalog, by mint and variety type. Click a count to search that group.

Mint MM Repunched Mint Mark Total
Denver (D) 1 1
San Francisco (S) 1 1
All mints 2 2

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