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1971 Lincoln Cent Date Guide

Eisenhower dollar and clad cents

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1971 overview Mintage, history, and notes for this year's cents

Philadelphia (MS)

Photo Credit: Cotgreave Collection

(click images above to see larger view)

Mintage
1,919,490,000
Mintage Ranking for Type
(88 of 126)

Denver (MS)

Photo Credit: Cotgreave Collection

(click images above to see larger view)

Mintage
2,911,045,600
Mintage Ranking for Type
(81 of 126)

San Francisco (MS)

Photo Credit: Cotgreave Collection

(click images above to see larger view)

Mintage
525,133,459
Mintage Ranking for Type
(116 of 126)

San Francisco (PR)

Mintage
3,220,733
Mintage Ranking for Type
(23 of 54)

1971 in history

1971 in history
  • The Eisenhower dollar debuted, the first large dollar coin since the Peace dollar era.
  • All circulating dimes, quarters, and half dollars were now clad with no silver in everyday change.
  • President Nixon ended the direct convertibility of dollars to gold, reshaping the Bretton Woods system.
  • The 26th Amendment lowered the voting age to 18.
  • Intel introduced the 4004 microprocessor, among the first commercial CPUs on a chip.
  • The Pentagon Papers were published, revealing government secrecy about the Vietnam War.
  • Bangladesh declared independence from Pakistan after a brutal civil war.
  • The Walt Disney World Resort opened near Orlando, Florida.

1971 Lincoln cent year notes

Collector notes for 1971 Lincoln cents are being prepared.

Images/Mintage Mint issues and coin images for 1971

Philadelphia (MS)

Photo Credit: Cotgreave Collection

(click images above to see larger view)

Mintage
1,919,490,000
Mintage Ranking for Type
(88 of 126)

Denver (MS)

Photo Credit: Cotgreave Collection

(click images above to see larger view)

Mintage
2,911,045,600
Mintage Ranking for Type
(81 of 126)

San Francisco (MS)

Photo Credit: Cotgreave Collection

(click images above to see larger view)

Mintage
525,133,459
Mintage Ranking for Type
(116 of 126)

San Francisco (PR)

Mintage
3,220,733
Mintage Ranking for Type
(23 of 54)
1971 in history What else was happening that year
1971 in history
  • The Eisenhower dollar debuted, the first large dollar coin since the Peace dollar era.
  • All circulating dimes, quarters, and half dollars were now clad with no silver in everyday change.
  • President Nixon ended the direct convertibility of dollars to gold, reshaping the Bretton Woods system.
  • The 26th Amendment lowered the voting age to 18.
  • Intel introduced the 4004 microprocessor, among the first commercial CPUs on a chip.
  • The Pentagon Papers were published, revealing government secrecy about the Vietnam War.
  • Bangladesh declared independence from Pakistan after a brutal civil war.
  • The Walt Disney World Resort opened near Orlando, Florida.
1971 cent notes Collector notes for this year's Lincoln cents

Collector notes for 1971 Lincoln cents are being prepared.

Design types Obverse and reverse engravings in use for 1971

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 1971 Lincoln cents

See the mint mark types reference.

Typical values Series price guide for regular-issue 1971 cents

1971 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
1971-P BN 0.05 0.05 0.05 0.05 0.05 0
1971-P RB
1971-P RD
1971-D BN 0.05 0.05 0.05 0.05 0.05 0
1971-D RB
1971-D RD
1971-S BN 0.05 0.05 0.05 0.05 0.05 0
1971-S RB
1971-S RD
Issue G4 VG8 F12 VF20 EF40 AU50
1971-P BN 0.05 0.05 0.05 0.05 0.05 0
1971-P RB
1971-P RD
1971-D BN 0.05 0.05 0.05 0.05 0.05 0
1971-D RB
1971-D RD
1971-S BN 0.05 0.05 0.05 0.05 0.05 0
1971-S RB
1971-S RD

Proof

Issue PR60 PR61 PR62 PR63
1971-S CAM 0.50 0.65 1.40 2.40
1971-S DCAM
Issue PR60 PR61 PR62 PR63
1971-S CAM 0.50 0.65 1.40 2.40
1971-S DCAM
Die varieties in the catalog Attributed 1971 dies by mint and variety type

Our attribution catalog for 1971—doubled dies, repunched mint marks, and related varieties documented by die number. This is specialist research beyond regular issue Lincoln cents.

Search all 1971 dies Variety value guide for 1971

Catalogued dies for 1971

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
Philadelphia (P) 7 N/A 7
Denver (D) 1 21 22
San Francisco (S) 3 12 15
All mints 11 33 44
Variety plate coin videos Roll-reveal videos that sourced plate coins for 1971 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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