1940 Lincoln Cent Date Guide

Pre-war cents and Jefferson nickels

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1940 overview Mintage, history, and notes for this year's cents

Philadelphia (MS)

Photo Credit: Cotgreave Collection

(click images above to see larger view)

Mintage: 586,810,000
Mintage Ranking for Type: (13 of 140)

Denver (MS)

Photo Credit: Cotgreave Collection

(click images above to see larger view)

Mintage: 81,390,000
Mintage Ranking for Type: (71 of 140)

San Francisco (MS)

Photo Credit: Cotgreave Collection

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Mintage: 112,940,000
Mintage Ranking for Type: (64 of 140)

Philadelphia (PR)

Mintage: 15,872
Mintage Ranking for Type: (12 of 26)

1940 in history

Lincoln and Jefferson coins circulated normally before wartime shortages and rationing changed daily life.
The Selective Service Act required men to register for the draft as the United States prepared for possible war.
Franklin D. Roosevelt won an unprecedented third term as president in November.
Germany invaded Denmark, Norway, France, Belgium, and the Netherlands in a rapid spring offensive.
The Battle of Britain saw the Royal Air Force defend against German bombing through the summer and fall.
The first peacetime draft in U.S. history began in September.
Tom and Jerry cartoons debuted; Bugs Bunny appeared in A Wild Hare.
The Tacoma Narrows Bridge collapsed in Washington State in November in high winds.

1940 Lincoln cent year notes

Collector notes for 1940 Lincoln cents are being prepared.

Images/Mintage Mint issues and coin images for 1940

Philadelphia (MS)

Photo Credit: Cotgreave Collection

(click images above to see larger view)

Mintage: 586,810,000
Mintage Ranking for Type: (13 of 140)

Denver (MS)

Photo Credit: Cotgreave Collection

(click images above to see larger view)

Mintage: 81,390,000
Mintage Ranking for Type: (71 of 140)

San Francisco (MS)

Photo Credit: Cotgreave Collection

(click images above to see larger view)

Mintage: 112,940,000
Mintage Ranking for Type: (64 of 140)

Philadelphia (PR)

Mintage: 15,872
Mintage Ranking for Type: (12 of 26)

1940 in history What else was happening that year

Lincoln and Jefferson coins circulated normally before wartime shortages and rationing changed daily life.
The Selective Service Act required men to register for the draft as the United States prepared for possible war.
Franklin D. Roosevelt won an unprecedented third term as president in November.
Germany invaded Denmark, Norway, France, Belgium, and the Netherlands in a rapid spring offensive.
The Battle of Britain saw the Royal Air Force defend against German bombing through the summer and fall.
The first peacetime draft in U.S. history began in September.
Tom and Jerry cartoons debuted; Bugs Bunny appeared in A Wild Hare.
The Tacoma Narrows Bridge collapsed in Washington State in November in high winds.

1940 cent notes Collector notes for this year's Lincoln cents

Collector notes for 1940 Lincoln cents are being prepared.

Design types Obverse and reverse engravings in use for 1940

Obverse design types (ODT)

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

Reverse design types (RDT)

Wheat reverse — RDT01 · 1909–1958

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 1940 Lincoln cents

Evenly Shaped-D — 1934–1945 · business
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 1940 cents

1940 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
1940-P BN	0.05	0.10	0.15	0.25	0.35		0.45
1940-P RB
1940-P RD
1940-D BN	0.05	0.10	0.15	0.20	0.30	0.40	0.75
1940-D RB
1940-D RD
1940-S BN	0.05	0.10	0.25	0.40	0.65		0.80
1940-S RB
1940-S RD

Issue	AU53	AU55	AU58	MS60	MS61	MS62
1940-P BN	0.50	0.65	0.75	1.75	1.85	1.95
1940-P RB						2.30
1940-P RD					3	4
1940-D BN	0.80	0.90	1.15	1.90	2	2.55
1940-D RB				2.90	3.15	3.45
1940-D RD				4	4	5
1940-S BN	0.90	1.05	1.30	2	2.20	2.60
1940-S RB
1940-S RD				4	4	6

Issue	MS63	MS64	MS65	MS66	MS67	MS68
1940-P BN	2.30	2.90	3.60	9.40	26.25
1940-P RB	3.45	4.60	7.20	13.75	37.50
1940-P RD	4.55	7.65	14.25	29.50	159	5,500
1940-D BN	2.90	4.60	7.80	13.75	31.25
1940-D RB	4.05	6.90	10.75	17.50	47.50
1940-D RD	6.60	10.25	19	34.75	139	9,400
1940-S BN	3.30	5.20	7.20	13.75	25
1940-S RB	4.05	6.90	10.75	17.50	37.50
1940-S RD	7	12.25	18.25	34	154	4,700

Issue	G4	VG8	F12	VF20	EF40	EF45	AU50
1940-P BN	0.05	0.10	0.15	0.25	0.35		0.45
1940-P RB
1940-P RD
1940-D BN	0.05	0.10	0.15	0.20	0.30	0.40	0.75
1940-D RB
1940-D RD
1940-S BN	0.05	0.10	0.25	0.40	0.65		0.80
1940-S RB
1940-S RD

Issue	AU53	AU55	AU58	MS60	MS61	MS62
1940-P BN	0.50	0.65	0.75	1.75	1.85	1.95
1940-P RB						2.30
1940-P RD					3	4
1940-D BN	0.80	0.90	1.15	1.90	2	2.55
1940-D RB				2.90	3.15	3.45
1940-D RD				4	4	5
1940-S BN	0.90	1.05	1.30	2	2.20	2.60
1940-S RB
1940-S RD				4	4	6

Issue	MS63	MS64	MS65	MS66	MS67	MS68
1940-P BN	2.30	2.90	3.60	9.40	26.25
1940-P RB	3.45	4.60	7.20	13.75	37.50
1940-P RD	4.55	7.65	14.25	29.50	159	5,500
1940-D BN	2.90	4.60	7.80	13.75	31.25
1940-D RB	4.05	6.90	10.75	17.50	47.50
1940-D RD	6.60	10.25	19	34.75	139	9,400
1940-S BN	3.30	5.20	7.20	13.75	25
1940-S RB	4.05	6.90	10.75	17.50	37.50
1940-S RD	7	12.25	18.25	34	154	4,700

Proof

Issue	PR60	PR61	PR62
1940-P BN	20.25	24	27.50
1940-P RB		26.50	31.25
1940-P RD		39.50	45.50
1940-P CAM

Issue	PR63	PR64	PR65
1940-P BN	32.50	45	67.50
1940-P RB	38.75	59	85
1940-P RD	54	95	125
1940-P CAM		880	2,225

Issue	PR66	PR67
1940-P BN	113
1940-P RB	169
1940-P RD	300	3,600
1940-P CAM

Issue	PR60	PR61	PR62
1940-P BN	20.25	24	27.50
1940-P RB		26.50	31.25
1940-P RD		39.50	45.50
1940-P CAM

Issue	PR63	PR64	PR65
1940-P BN	32.50	45	67.50
1940-P RB	38.75	59	85
1940-P RD	54	95	125
1940-P CAM		880	2,225

Issue	PR66	PR67
1940-P BN	113
1940-P RB	169
1940-P RD	300	3,600
1940-P CAM

Die varieties in the catalog Attributed 1940 dies by mint and variety type

Our attribution catalog for 1940—doubled dies, repunched mint marks, and related varieties documented by die number. This is specialist research beyond regular issue Lincoln cents.

Search all 1940 dies Variety value guide for 1940

Catalogued dies for 1940

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

Mint	DO	DR	MM	Total
Philadelphia (P)	9	7	N/A	16
Denver (D)	2	1	5	8
San Francisco (S)	5	6	11	22
All mints	16	14	16	46

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