Skip to main content

1963 Lincoln Cent Date Guide

Kennedy half dollar follows tragedy

(sponsored)

1963 overview Mintage, history, and notes for this year's cents

Philadelphia (MS)

Photo Credit: Cotgreave Collection

(click images above to see larger view)

Mintage
754,110,000
Mintage Ranking for Type
(108 of 126)

Denver (MS)

Photo Credit: Cotgreave Collection

(click images above to see larger view)

Mintage
1,774,020,400
Mintage Ranking for Type
(91 of 126)

Philadelphia (PR)

Mintage
3,075,645
Mintage Ranking for Type
(29 of 54)

1963 in history

1963 in history
  • The Kennedy half dollar was authorized within weeks of the president's death and replaced the Franklin half.
  • Lincoln cents and the new half dollar reminded Americans of national loss and commemoration.
  • President Kennedy was assassinated in Dallas on November 22.
  • Martin Luther King Jr. delivered his I Have a Dream speech at the March on Washington in August.
  • The United States, Soviet Union, and Britain signed the Limited Nuclear Test Ban Treaty.
  • ZIP codes were introduced to speed mail sorting nationwide.
  • The Clean Air Act was signed, beginning stronger federal air pollution controls.
  • Betty Friedan's The Feminine Mystique helped spark second-wave feminism.

1963 Lincoln cent year notes

The quantity of 1963 cents minted rivals that of the past few years with very little change. With that being said, availability of rolls and bags is still very high; this is the lowest priced year of uncirculated Lincoln cent rolls in history, with dealer trade prices at barely over face value. The positive side to this is that it provides a treasure trove for die variety hunters at a very low price. Proof set production was comparable to previous years, and full cameo cents are a little more common than in 1962.

Doubled dies are quite plentiful this year. A return of the doubled eyelids and a heavy increase in bar-L cents this year make 1963 cents a nice choice for those wanting to pick up a pile of minor doubled dies, but don't forget to check the reverse of those coins. A number of reverse doubled dies have been reported on 1963 cents, many of them on proof issues. One particular Denver minted doubled die with high collector interest shows a normal 3 hubbed over a partially removed very low 3 in the date. These are uncommon and typically sell for $10-15 in uncirculated grades.

Repunched mintmarks remain on the status quo with 1962. Over 20 of them are known, but most are quite minor. Also like 1962, the same dimple shows in the lower serif of the mintmark on many examples.

Because of inexpensive roll prices and a rather large number of doubled dies, 1963 comes recommended as a good year for die variety hunters.


Images/Mintage Mint issues and coin images for 1963

Philadelphia (MS)

Photo Credit: Cotgreave Collection

(click images above to see larger view)

Mintage
754,110,000
Mintage Ranking for Type
(108 of 126)

Denver (MS)

Photo Credit: Cotgreave Collection

(click images above to see larger view)

Mintage
1,774,020,400
Mintage Ranking for Type
(91 of 126)

Philadelphia (PR)

Mintage
3,075,645
Mintage Ranking for Type
(29 of 54)
1963 in history What else was happening that year
1963 in history
  • The Kennedy half dollar was authorized within weeks of the president's death and replaced the Franklin half.
  • Lincoln cents and the new half dollar reminded Americans of national loss and commemoration.
  • President Kennedy was assassinated in Dallas on November 22.
  • Martin Luther King Jr. delivered his I Have a Dream speech at the March on Washington in August.
  • The United States, Soviet Union, and Britain signed the Limited Nuclear Test Ban Treaty.
  • ZIP codes were introduced to speed mail sorting nationwide.
  • The Clean Air Act was signed, beginning stronger federal air pollution controls.
  • Betty Friedan's The Feminine Mystique helped spark second-wave feminism.
1963 cent notes Collector notes for this year's Lincoln cents

The quantity of 1963 cents minted rivals that of the past few years with very little change. With that being said, availability of rolls and bags is still very high; this is the lowest priced year of uncirculated Lincoln cent rolls in history, with dealer trade prices at barely over face value. The positive side to this is that it provides a treasure trove for die variety hunters at a very low price. Proof set production was comparable to previous years, and full cameo cents are a little more common than in 1962.

Doubled dies are quite plentiful this year. A return of the doubled eyelids and a heavy increase in bar-L cents this year make 1963 cents a nice choice for those wanting to pick up a pile of minor doubled dies, but don't forget to check the reverse of those coins. A number of reverse doubled dies have been reported on 1963 cents, many of them on proof issues. One particular Denver minted doubled die with high collector interest shows a normal 3 hubbed over a partially removed very low 3 in the date. These are uncommon and typically sell for $10-15 in uncirculated grades.

Repunched mintmarks remain on the status quo with 1962. Over 20 of them are known, but most are quite minor. Also like 1962, the same dimple shows in the lower serif of the mintmark on many examples.

Because of inexpensive roll prices and a rather large number of doubled dies, 1963 comes recommended as a good year for die variety hunters.


Design types Obverse and reverse engravings in use for 1963

Obverse design types (ODT)

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 1963 Lincoln cents

See the mint mark types reference.

Typical values Series price guide for regular-issue 1963 cents

1963 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 AU50
1963-P BN 0.05 0.05 0.05 0.05 0.05 0
1963-P RB
1963-P RD
1963-D BN 0.05 0.05 0.05 0.05 0.05 0
1963-D RB
1963-D RD
Issue G4 VG8 F12 VF20 EF40 AU50
1963-P BN 0.05 0.05 0.05 0.05 0.05 0
1963-P RB
1963-P RD
1963-D BN 0.05 0.05 0.05 0.05 0.05 0
1963-D RB
1963-D RD

Proof

Issue PR60 PR61 PR62 PR63
1963-P RB 0.75 1.45 1.75 2.80
1963-P RD 0.50 1
1963-P CAM
1963-P DCAM
Issue PR60 PR61 PR62 PR63
1963-P RB 0.75 1.45 1.75 2.80
1963-P RD 0.50 1
1963-P CAM
1963-P DCAM
Die varieties in the catalog Attributed 1963 dies by mint and variety type

Our attribution catalog for 1963—doubled dies, repunched mint marks, and related varieties documented by die number. This is specialist research beyond regular issue Lincoln cents.

Search all 1963 dies Variety value guide for 1963

Catalogued dies for 1963

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) 44 20 N/A 64
Denver (D) 38 7 32 77
All mints 82 27 32 141
Variety plate coin videos Roll-reveal videos that sourced plate coins for 1963 dies

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

See all 33 videos

(sponsored)