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1930 Lincoln Cent Date Guide

Depression-era Lincoln cents

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1930 overview Mintage, history, and notes for this year's cents

Philadelphia (MS)

Photo Credit: Cotgreave Collection

(click images above to see larger view)

Mintage
157,415,000
Mintage Ranking for Type
(50 of 140)

Denver (MS)

Photo Credit: Cotgreave Collection

(click images above to see larger view)

Mintage
40,100,000
Mintage Ranking for Type
(92 of 140)

San Francisco (MS)

Photo Credit: Cotgreave Collection

(click images above to see larger view)

Mintage
24,286,000
Mintage Ranking for Type
(107 of 140)

1930 in history

1930 in history
  • Cent production fell as the Depression cut demand for new coinage and many families saved every penny.
  • The Smoot-Hawley Tariff Act raised import duties, worsening international trade during the slump.
  • The planet Pluto was discovered at Lowell Observatory in Arizona on February 18.
  • Hoover Dam construction began on the Colorado River, promising jobs and water for the Southwest.
  • Amy Johnson flew solo from England to Australia, gaining worldwide fame.
  • The Galvin Manufacturing Corporation marketed one of the first commercially successful car radios.
  • Brazil's government moved to a new capital site that later became Brasilia.
  • The London Naval Treaty limited warship construction among major naval powers.

1930 Lincoln cent year notes

Collector notes for 1930 Lincoln cents are being prepared.

Images/Mintage Mint issues and coin images for 1930

Philadelphia (MS)

Photo Credit: Cotgreave Collection

(click images above to see larger view)

Mintage
157,415,000
Mintage Ranking for Type
(50 of 140)

Denver (MS)

Photo Credit: Cotgreave Collection

(click images above to see larger view)

Mintage
40,100,000
Mintage Ranking for Type
(92 of 140)

San Francisco (MS)

Photo Credit: Cotgreave Collection

(click images above to see larger view)

Mintage
24,286,000
Mintage Ranking for Type
(107 of 140)
1930 in history What else was happening that year
1930 in history
  • Cent production fell as the Depression cut demand for new coinage and many families saved every penny.
  • The Smoot-Hawley Tariff Act raised import duties, worsening international trade during the slump.
  • The planet Pluto was discovered at Lowell Observatory in Arizona on February 18.
  • Hoover Dam construction began on the Colorado River, promising jobs and water for the Southwest.
  • Amy Johnson flew solo from England to Australia, gaining worldwide fame.
  • The Galvin Manufacturing Corporation marketed one of the first commercially successful car radios.
  • Brazil's government moved to a new capital site that later became Brasilia.
  • The London Naval Treaty limited warship construction among major naval powers.
1930 cent notes Collector notes for this year's Lincoln cents

Collector notes for 1930 Lincoln cents are being prepared.

Design types Obverse and reverse engravings in use for 1930

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 1930 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 1930 cents

1930 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
1930-P BN 0.20 0.30 0.35 0.65 1.45 3 3.10
1930-P RB
1930-P RD
1930-D BN 0.30 0.35 0.50 1.35 2 3 4.25
1930-D RB
1930-D RD
1930-S BN 0.30 0.35 0.40 1.05 1.60 3.20 5.30
1930-S RB
1930-S RD
Issue G4 VG8 F12 VF20 EF40 EF45 AU50
1930-P BN 0.20 0.30 0.35 0.65 1.45 3 3.10
1930-P RB
1930-P RD
1930-D BN 0.30 0.35 0.50 1.35 2 3 4.25
1930-D RB
1930-D RD
1930-S BN 0.30 0.35 0.40 1.05 1.60 3.20 5.30
1930-S RB
1930-S RD
Die varieties in the catalog Attributed 1930 dies by mint and variety type

Our attribution catalog for 1930—doubled dies, repunched mint marks, and related varieties documented by die number. This is specialist research beyond regular issue Lincoln cents.

Search all 1930 dies Variety value guide for 1930

Catalogued dies for 1930

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 MM Repunched Mint Mark Total
Philadelphia (P) 2 1 N/A 3
Denver (D) 0 1 4 5
San Francisco (S) 1 0 13 14
All mints 3 2 17 22
Variety plate coin videos Roll-reveal videos that sourced plate coins for 1930 dies

Videos on our YouTube channel that show when the plate coins for these dies were found in CopperCoins roll reveal videos.

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