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1931 Lincoln Cent Date Guide

No nickels from the Mint

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1931 overview Mintage, history, and notes for this year's cents

Philadelphia (MS)

Photo Credit: Cotgreave Collection

(click images above to see larger view)

Mintage
19,396,000
Mintage Ranking for Type
(112 of 140)

Denver (MS)

Photo Credit: Cotgreave Collection

(click images above to see larger view)

Mintage
4,480,000
Mintage Ranking for Type
(132 of 140)

San Francisco (MS)

Photo Credit: Cotgreave Collection

(click images above to see larger view)

Mintage
866,000
Mintage Ranking for Type
(139 of 140)

1931 in history

1931 in history
  • The Mint struck no nickels in 1931, making Buffalo nickels from this year scarce in circulation.
  • The Empire State Building opened in New York City on May 1, becoming the world's tallest building.
  • The Star-Spangled Banner became the official national anthem of the United States by law.
  • Japan invaded Manchuria in September, beginning years of aggression in China.
  • Unemployment in the United States exceeded 15 percent as banks continued to fail.
  • Al Capone was convicted of federal income tax evasion and sentenced to prison.
  • The Hawley-Smoot tariff's effects rippled through Europe, deepening the global depression.
  • Thomas Edison died in October at his home in West Orange, New Jersey.

1931 Lincoln cent year notes

Collector notes for 1931 Lincoln cents are being prepared.

Images/Mintage Mint issues and coin images for 1931

Philadelphia (MS)

Photo Credit: Cotgreave Collection

(click images above to see larger view)

Mintage
19,396,000
Mintage Ranking for Type
(112 of 140)

Denver (MS)

Photo Credit: Cotgreave Collection

(click images above to see larger view)

Mintage
4,480,000
Mintage Ranking for Type
(132 of 140)

San Francisco (MS)

Photo Credit: Cotgreave Collection

(click images above to see larger view)

Mintage
866,000
Mintage Ranking for Type
(139 of 140)
1931 in history What else was happening that year
1931 in history
  • The Mint struck no nickels in 1931, making Buffalo nickels from this year scarce in circulation.
  • The Empire State Building opened in New York City on May 1, becoming the world's tallest building.
  • The Star-Spangled Banner became the official national anthem of the United States by law.
  • Japan invaded Manchuria in September, beginning years of aggression in China.
  • Unemployment in the United States exceeded 15 percent as banks continued to fail.
  • Al Capone was convicted of federal income tax evasion and sentenced to prison.
  • The Hawley-Smoot tariff's effects rippled through Europe, deepening the global depression.
  • Thomas Edison died in October at his home in West Orange, New Jersey.
1931 cent notes Collector notes for this year's Lincoln cents

Collector notes for 1931 Lincoln cents are being prepared.

Key Dates & Errors Key dates, valuable errors, and genuine vs fake guidance for 1931

1931-S Key date

Mintage 866,000 from five known dies (about 173,200 coins per die on average). Classic Depression-era key — mint marks sit close on all dies, so secondary markers matter.

Diagnostics in this package come from Chuck Daughtrey’s die study (Keys to the Lincoln, 2018). Mint marks were punched into working dies by hand until 1990, so position (and often tilt) separates dies. Overlays against fixed design elements such as the date make those differences obvious. Measurements between the closest point of the middle date digits and the mint mark help confirm which die struck a coin.

Study sample: 193 different 1931-S coins. Relative frequencies: #01 very common (~30%), #02 common (~21%), #03 common (~24%), #04 uncommon (~14%), #05 scarce (~11%).

Because every known die has a close mint mark, die cracks, dots, scratches, and reverse wear patterns finish the identification.

Known fakes & alterations

Key and semi-key Lincoln cents are the focus of authenticators and counterfeiters alike. Common alteration methods include:

  • Adding a mint mark to a common Philadelphia issue of the same date (for example, turning a 1914 into a 1914-D).
  • Scraping or altering digits of a common date (for example, turning a 1944-D into a 1914-D).
  • Copying genuine coins by spark erosion or soft-die transposition.

Crude alterations usually fail under close study because device details and mint-mark character are wrong. Matching a coin to one of the few known genuine dies for the issue is a powerful authenticity check. When in doubt, use a trusted third-party grading service.

1931-S is frequently targeted with added mint marks. A close S alone is not proof — match secondary markers to one of the five documented dies.

Quick checklist

  1. All five dies have close mint-mark placement — do not stop at “close S”
  2. Die #01: concentric jaw scratches; reverse often weak lower center
  3. Die #02: heavy die dot behind head; trenches at UNUM
  4. Die #03: chubby mint mark; crack from V of VDB along shoulder; selective reverse letter wear
  5. Die #04: N–S date/chin scratches; reverse scrape at PLURIBUS·UNUM dot
  6. Die #05 (scarce): closest S-to-9 spacing (~0.1 mm); PLURIBUS S ejection scrapes

Die pairs that struck this issue

Die #01 Very common (~30%). Close mint mark (typical). Concentric die scratches on jaw/collar; two raised marks behind head on cleaner examples; reverse often weak in lower center.

How to recognize: Very common (~30%). Close mint mark (typical). Concentric die scratches on jaw/collar; two raised marks behind head on cleaner examples; reverse often weak in lower center.

Relative frequency: Very common. Study sample: 58 of 193 (30.1%). Assumed die mintage: ~260,650. Most common 1931-S die. Behind-head marks may not survive VF and lower.

  • 1931-S Die #01
    1931-S Die #01
Die #02 Common. Heavy die dot behind Lincoln’s head; mint mark high but well centered, slightly lower than #01 with slight left tilt. Reverse trenches between U–M of UNUM.

How to recognize: Common. Heavy die dot behind Lincoln’s head; mint mark high but well centered, slightly lower than #01 with slight left tilt. Reverse trenches between U–M of UNUM.

Relative frequency: Common. Study sample: 41 of 193 (21.2%). Assumed die mintage: ~183,600. Later states may show two small rim cuds on the upper-left reverse rim.

  • 1931-S Die #02 — die-dot marker die
    1931-S Die #02 — die-dot marker die
Die #03 Common. Chubby/worn-looking mint mark; centerline touches far-left of the 3. Die crack NNE from V of VDB along shoulder. Reverse: heavy selective wear on specific legend letters from indirect transfer.

How to recognize: Common. Chubby/worn-looking mint mark; centerline touches far-left of the 3. Die crack NNE from V of VDB along shoulder. Reverse: heavy selective wear on specific legend letters from indirect transfer.

Relative frequency: Common. Study sample: 46 of 193 (23.8%). Assumed die mintage: ~206,108. Unusual reverse wear pattern hits U/I of UNITED, A and second T of STATES, O of OF, and IC of AMERICA while other letters stay sharper.

  • 1931-S Die #03
    1931-S Die #03
Die #04 Uncommon. Very high mint mark, slight right tilt; N–S scratches in date/mint-mark area and heavy scratches from chin. Reverse: N–S scrape around PLURIBUS·UNUM dot. Earlier states only.

How to recognize: Uncommon. Very high mint mark, slight right tilt; N–S scratches in date/mint-mark area and heavy scratches from chin. Reverse: N–S scrape around PLURIBUS·UNUM dot. Earlier states only.

Relative frequency: Uncommon. Study sample: 27 of 193 (14.0%). Assumed die mintage: ~121,250. Lacks the heavy die wear common on other 1931-S dies. Light reverse scratches often show between E and S of STATES.

  • 1931-S Die #04
    1931-S Die #04
  • 1931-S Die #04 — additional plate
    1931-S Die #04 — additional plate
Die #05 Scarce. Closest mint-mark-to-date spacing of the issue (~0.1 mm from the 9). Reverse: ejection scrapes at S of PLURIBUS; light NE–SW scratches in lower-right wheat area.

How to recognize: Scarce. Closest mint-mark-to-date spacing of the issue (~0.1 mm from the 9). Reverse: ejection scrapes at S of PLURIBUS; light NE–SW scratches in lower-right wheat area.

Relative frequency: Scarce. Study sample: 21 of 193 (10.9%). Assumed die mintage: ~94,395. Most scarce 1931-S die in the study. Known into mid/late state even though sample size suggests relative scarcity.

  • 1931-S Die #05 — closest S-to-date spacing
    1931-S Die #05 — closest S-to-date spacing
  • 1931-S Die #05 — measurement plate
    1931-S Die #05 — measurement plate

Open the 1931-S (key date) information page.

See the list of all key dates and errors in Lincoln cents

Design types Obverse and reverse engravings in use for 1931

Obverse design types (ODT)

  • Flat serif G obverse
    Flat serif G obverse — ODT09 · 1922–1929 · business · 1931–1933 · business · 1935–1955 · business · 1936–1942 · proof · 1950–1955 · proof

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 1931 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 1931 cents

1931 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
1931-P BN 0.70 0.70 1.25 2.50 4.95 7
1931-P RB
1931-P RD
1931-D BN 4.45 5.75 6.45 10 19 21.50
1931-D RB
1931-D RD
1931-S BN 76 81.50 93 97 100 105
1931-S RB
1931-S RD
Issue G4 VG8 F12 VF20 EF40 EF45
1931-P BN 0.70 0.70 1.25 2.50 4.95 7
1931-P RB
1931-P RD
1931-D BN 4.45 5.75 6.45 10 19 21.50
1931-D RB
1931-D RD
1931-S BN 76 81.50 93 97 100 105
1931-S RB
1931-S RD
Articles and videos Related reading and watching for 1931

Articles related to 1931 Lincoln cents

Die varieties in the catalog Attributed 1931 dies by mint and variety type

Our attribution catalog for 1931—doubled dies, repunched mint marks, and related varieties documented by die number. This is specialist research beyond regular issue Lincoln cents.

Search all 1931 dies Variety value guide for 1931

Catalogued dies for 1931

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

Mint DR Doubled Die Reverse MM Repunched Mint Mark Total
Philadelphia (P) 1 N/A 1
Denver (D) 0 1 1
All mints 1 1 2

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