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1917 Lincoln Cent Date Guide

America enters the Great War

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1917 overview Mintage, history, and notes for this year's cents

Philadelphia (MS)

Photo Credit: Cotgreave Collection

(click images above to see larger view)

Mintage
196,429,785
Mintage Ranking for Type
(41 of 140)

Denver (MS)

Photo Credit: Cotgreave Collection

(click images above to see larger view)

Mintage
55,120,000
Mintage Ranking for Type
(81 of 140)

San Francisco (MS)

Photo Credit: Cotgreave Collection

(click images above to see larger view)

Mintage
32,620,000
Mintage Ranking for Type
(98 of 140)

1917 in history

1917 in history
  • Wartime demand strained labor and materials; copper remained essential for cents and for munitions production.
  • The United States declared war on Germany on April 6, entering World War I after years of neutrality.
  • Congress passed the Selective Service Act in May, instituting a draft for military service.
  • The Espionage Act restricted dissent and classified materials deemed harmful to the war effort.
  • The Russian Revolution overthrew the tsar in March; the Bolsheviks seized power in November.
  • The Zimmermann Telegram, proposing a German-Mexican alliance against the U.S., was made public in March.
  • Major League Baseball played a full season amid debate over whether the game should pause for the war.
  • The Balfour Declaration expressed British support for a Jewish national home in Palestine.

1917 Lincoln cent year notes

The U.S. was deeply involved in World War I by 1917 and demand for new cents was greater than ever. This shows in a near-doubled production from 1916. It also tends to show in the quality of Denver and San Francisco cents, which are usually found with soft details from overworked dies.

The need for increased production could be the reason why a strong doubled die was skipped by mint inspectors and went into production.

The 1917 DDO is most recognizable by the very strong split inside the 9 digit of the date.

The earliest known major doubled die of the series affecting all areas of the design was minted in Philadelphia this year. Although quite rare, this doubled die is known in most grades from good to uncirculated. The uncirculated specimens almost had to have been saved by chance since doubled dies would not be studied for another 40 years.

Because this doubled die is visible even in the lowest grades, it is still available in circulated mixtures and is found by collectors on a frequent enough basis to warrant mention here. Below are photos of the doubled die as it appears on higher grade coins.

Be wary of any circumstance where someone offers a 1917 cent as a proof. There once was some speculation the mint may have made some, but this is not true. There are no proof cents dated 1917 through 1935. Any proof appearing 1917 cent is likely just struck with early business strike dies.

Images/Mintage Mint issues and coin images for 1917

Philadelphia (MS)

Photo Credit: Cotgreave Collection

(click images above to see larger view)

Mintage
196,429,785
Mintage Ranking for Type
(41 of 140)

Denver (MS)

Photo Credit: Cotgreave Collection

(click images above to see larger view)

Mintage
55,120,000
Mintage Ranking for Type
(81 of 140)

San Francisco (MS)

Photo Credit: Cotgreave Collection

(click images above to see larger view)

Mintage
32,620,000
Mintage Ranking for Type
(98 of 140)
1917 in history What else was happening that year
1917 in history
  • Wartime demand strained labor and materials; copper remained essential for cents and for munitions production.
  • The United States declared war on Germany on April 6, entering World War I after years of neutrality.
  • Congress passed the Selective Service Act in May, instituting a draft for military service.
  • The Espionage Act restricted dissent and classified materials deemed harmful to the war effort.
  • The Russian Revolution overthrew the tsar in March; the Bolsheviks seized power in November.
  • The Zimmermann Telegram, proposing a German-Mexican alliance against the U.S., was made public in March.
  • Major League Baseball played a full season amid debate over whether the game should pause for the war.
  • The Balfour Declaration expressed British support for a Jewish national home in Palestine.
1917 cent notes Collector notes for this year's Lincoln cents

The U.S. was deeply involved in World War I by 1917 and demand for new cents was greater than ever. This shows in a near-doubled production from 1916. It also tends to show in the quality of Denver and San Francisco cents, which are usually found with soft details from overworked dies.

The need for increased production could be the reason why a strong doubled die was skipped by mint inspectors and went into production.

The 1917 DDO is most recognizable by the very strong split inside the 9 digit of the date.

The earliest known major doubled die of the series affecting all areas of the design was minted in Philadelphia this year. Although quite rare, this doubled die is known in most grades from good to uncirculated. The uncirculated specimens almost had to have been saved by chance since doubled dies would not be studied for another 40 years.

Because this doubled die is visible even in the lowest grades, it is still available in circulated mixtures and is found by collectors on a frequent enough basis to warrant mention here. Below are photos of the doubled die as it appears on higher grade coins.

Be wary of any circumstance where someone offers a 1917 cent as a proof. There once was some speculation the mint may have made some, but this is not true. There are no proof cents dated 1917 through 1935. Any proof appearing 1917 cent is likely just struck with early business strike dies.

Design types Obverse and reverse engravings in use for 1917

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 1917 Lincoln cents
  • Early-D mint mark
    Early-D — 1911–1920 · business · 1922 · business · 1924–1933 · business
  • Small-S mint mark
    Small-S — 1917–1921 · business · 1923–1931 · business · 1935–1941 · business

See the mint mark types reference.

Typical values Series price guide for regular-issue 1917 cents

1917 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 AU50
1917-P BN 0.45 0.60 1.10 3.60 5 7 11.25
1917-P RB
1917-P RD
1917-D BN 1.85 3.85 7.10 13.75 35.50 37.50 38.50
1917-D RB
1917-D RD
1917-S BN 1.80 3.35 5.60 8.85 17 21 26.25
1917-S RB
1917-S RD
Issue G4 VG8 F12 VF20 EF40 EF45 AU50
1917-P BN 0.45 0.60 1.10 3.60 5 7 11.25
1917-P RB
1917-P RD
1917-D BN 1.85 3.85 7.10 13.75 35.50 37.50 38.50
1917-D RB
1917-D RD
1917-S BN 1.80 3.35 5.60 8.85 17 21 26.25
1917-S RB
1917-S RD
Die varieties in the catalog Attributed 1917 dies by mint and variety type

Our attribution catalog for 1917—doubled dies, repunched mint marks, and related varieties documented by die number. This is specialist research beyond regular issue Lincoln cents.

Search all 1917 dies Variety value guide for 1917

Catalogued dies for 1917

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

Mint DO Doubled Die Obverse DR Doubled Die Reverse Total
Philadelphia (P) 2 0 2
San Francisco (S) 0 1 1
All mints 2 1 3

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