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1919 Lincoln Cent Date Guide

Peace treaty and postwar unrest

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1919 overview Mintage, history, and notes for this year's cents

Philadelphia (MS)

Photo Credit: Cotgreave Collection

(click images above to see larger view)

Mintage
392,021,000
Mintage Ranking for Type
(17 of 140)

Denver (MS)

Photo Credit: Cotgreave Collection

(click images above to see larger view)

Mintage
57,154,000
Mintage Ranking for Type
(80 of 140)

San Francisco (MS)

Photo Credit: Cotgreave Collection

(click images above to see larger view)

Mintage
139,760,000
Mintage Ranking for Type
(57 of 140)

1919 in history

1919 in history
  • Postwar Lincoln cents returned to normal commerce as veterans reentered the workforce and prices began to rise.
  • Allied leaders signed the Treaty of Versailles with Germany on June 28, formally ending World War I.
  • President Wilson suffered a severe stroke in October while campaigning for Senate approval of the League of Nations.
  • The Eighteenth Amendment established Prohibition, banning manufacture and sale of alcoholic beverages.
  • The Nineteenth Amendment, granting women the right to vote, passed Congress and moved toward ratification.
  • A race riot in Chicago in July left dozens dead and highlighted postwar racial tensions.
  • Boston police went on strike in September, raising fears of labor radicalism.
  • The first transatlantic flight by John Alcock and Arthur Brown was completed in June.

1919 Lincoln cent year notes

1919 is one of those years that still doesn't produce very much as far as coin collecting news is concerned. The one thing That remains somewhat of a news story for 1919 is that about 15 years ago an original roll of 1919 Lincoln Cents were opened and that roll generated the only known MS69 red (PCGS) graded coin for the issue. In fact it's the earliest MS69 graded Lincoln cent known to date.

Mint state examples are not difficult to obtain, and like 1918, are rather inexpensive. Rolls of 1919 cents are very common in average circulated grade, and in fact, 1919 Denver mint coins tend to be more difficult to obtain by the roll than San Francisco minted examples.

As for die varieties, an occasional D-mint repunched mint mark will come along, and there is a doubled die listed for 1919-S. The more "watchable" feature for the year is a 1919-S repunched mint mark that is quite a nice south spread, and is pretty well visible for those watching for them.

Images/Mintage Mint issues and coin images for 1919

Philadelphia (MS)

Photo Credit: Cotgreave Collection

(click images above to see larger view)

Mintage
392,021,000
Mintage Ranking for Type
(17 of 140)

Denver (MS)

Photo Credit: Cotgreave Collection

(click images above to see larger view)

Mintage
57,154,000
Mintage Ranking for Type
(80 of 140)

San Francisco (MS)

Photo Credit: Cotgreave Collection

(click images above to see larger view)

Mintage
139,760,000
Mintage Ranking for Type
(57 of 140)
1919 in history What else was happening that year
1919 in history
  • Postwar Lincoln cents returned to normal commerce as veterans reentered the workforce and prices began to rise.
  • Allied leaders signed the Treaty of Versailles with Germany on June 28, formally ending World War I.
  • President Wilson suffered a severe stroke in October while campaigning for Senate approval of the League of Nations.
  • The Eighteenth Amendment established Prohibition, banning manufacture and sale of alcoholic beverages.
  • The Nineteenth Amendment, granting women the right to vote, passed Congress and moved toward ratification.
  • A race riot in Chicago in July left dozens dead and highlighted postwar racial tensions.
  • Boston police went on strike in September, raising fears of labor radicalism.
  • The first transatlantic flight by John Alcock and Arthur Brown was completed in June.
1919 cent notes Collector notes for this year's Lincoln cents

1919 is one of those years that still doesn't produce very much as far as coin collecting news is concerned. The one thing That remains somewhat of a news story for 1919 is that about 15 years ago an original roll of 1919 Lincoln Cents were opened and that roll generated the only known MS69 red (PCGS) graded coin for the issue. In fact it's the earliest MS69 graded Lincoln cent known to date.

Mint state examples are not difficult to obtain, and like 1918, are rather inexpensive. Rolls of 1919 cents are very common in average circulated grade, and in fact, 1919 Denver mint coins tend to be more difficult to obtain by the roll than San Francisco minted examples.

As for die varieties, an occasional D-mint repunched mint mark will come along, and there is a doubled die listed for 1919-S. The more "watchable" feature for the year is a 1919-S repunched mint mark that is quite a nice south spread, and is pretty well visible for those watching for them.

Design types Obverse and reverse engravings in use for 1919

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 1919 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 1919 cents

1919 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
1919-P BN 0.30 0.35 0.45 1 2 3 5.45
1919-P RB
1919-P RD
1919-D BN 0.45 0.85 2 6.55 16 17.75 28.25
1919-D RB
1919-D RD
1919-S BN 0.50 0.75 1.80 2.60 9.75 13.50 17.50
1919-S RB
1919-S RD
Issue G4 VG8 F12 VF20 EF40 EF45 AU50
1919-P BN 0.30 0.35 0.45 1 2 3 5.45
1919-P RB
1919-P RD
1919-D BN 0.45 0.85 2 6.55 16 17.75 28.25
1919-D RB
1919-D RD
1919-S BN 0.50 0.75 1.80 2.60 9.75 13.50 17.50
1919-S RB
1919-S RD
Die varieties in the catalog Attributed 1919 dies by mint and variety type

Our attribution catalog for 1919—doubled dies, repunched mint marks, and related varieties documented by die number. This is specialist research beyond regular issue Lincoln cents.

Search all 1919 dies Variety value guide for 1919

Catalogued dies for 1919

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 MM Repunched Mint Mark Total
Denver (D) 0 1 1
San Francisco (S) 1 2 3
All mints 1 3 4

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