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1978 Lincoln Cent Date Guide

Susan B. Anthony dollar planned

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1978 overview Mintage, history, and notes for this year's cents

Philadelphia (MS)

Photo Credit: Cotgreave Collection

(click images above to see larger view)

Mintage
3,735,655,000
Mintage Ranking for Type
(68 of 126)

Denver (MS)

Photo Credit: Cotgreave Collection

(click images above to see larger view)

Mintage
4,280,233,400
Mintage Ranking for Type
(53 of 126)

San Francisco (MS)

Mintage
291,700,000
Mintage Ranking for Type
(122 of 126)

West Point (MS)

Mintage
1,531,250,000
Mintage Ranking for Type
(97 of 126)

San Francisco (PR)

Mintage
3,127,781
Mintage Ranking for Type
(28 of 54)

1978 in history

1978 in history
  • Congress authorized the small-size Susan B. Anthony dollar, intended to replace paper one-dollar notes.
  • Lincoln cents still cost less than face value to produce, unlike later debates over metal prices.
  • The Camp David Accords were signed by Egypt and Israel with President Carter mediating.
  • The first test-tube baby, Louise Brown, was born in England through in vitro fertilization.
  • The Jonestown massacre in Guyana killed more than 900 members of the Peoples Temple.
  • The first cellular mobile phone system trials expanded in Chicago.
  • The Panama Canal treaties passed the Senate, planning eventual transfer to Panama.
  • The first Garfield comic strip appeared in newspapers.

1978 Lincoln cent year notes

Collector notes for 1978 Lincoln cents are being prepared.

Images/Mintage Mint issues and coin images for 1978

Philadelphia (MS)

Photo Credit: Cotgreave Collection

(click images above to see larger view)

Mintage
3,735,655,000
Mintage Ranking for Type
(68 of 126)

Denver (MS)

Photo Credit: Cotgreave Collection

(click images above to see larger view)

Mintage
4,280,233,400
Mintage Ranking for Type
(53 of 126)

San Francisco (MS)

Mintage
291,700,000
Mintage Ranking for Type
(122 of 126)

West Point (MS)

Mintage
1,531,250,000
Mintage Ranking for Type
(97 of 126)

San Francisco (PR)

Mintage
3,127,781
Mintage Ranking for Type
(28 of 54)
1978 in history What else was happening that year
1978 in history
  • Congress authorized the small-size Susan B. Anthony dollar, intended to replace paper one-dollar notes.
  • Lincoln cents still cost less than face value to produce, unlike later debates over metal prices.
  • The Camp David Accords were signed by Egypt and Israel with President Carter mediating.
  • The first test-tube baby, Louise Brown, was born in England through in vitro fertilization.
  • The Jonestown massacre in Guyana killed more than 900 members of the Peoples Temple.
  • The first cellular mobile phone system trials expanded in Chicago.
  • The Panama Canal treaties passed the Senate, planning eventual transfer to Panama.
  • The first Garfield comic strip appeared in newspapers.
1978 cent notes Collector notes for this year's Lincoln cents

Collector notes for 1978 Lincoln cents are being prepared.

Design types Obverse and reverse engravings in use for 1978

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 1978 Lincoln cents

See the mint mark types reference.

Typical values Series price guide for regular-issue 1978 cents

1978 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
1978-P BN 0.05 0.05 0.05 0.05 0.05 0
1978-P RB
1978-P RD
1978-D BN 0.05 0.05 0.05 0.05 0.05 0
1978-D RB
1978-D RD
Issue G4 VG8 F12 VF20 EF40 AU50
1978-P BN 0.05 0.05 0.05 0.05 0.05 0
1978-P RB
1978-P RD
1978-D BN 0.05 0.05 0.05 0.05 0.05 0
1978-D RB
1978-D RD

Proof

Issue PR60 PR61 PR62 PR63
1978-S DCAM 0.95 1.05 1.45 2.10
Issue PR60 PR61 PR62 PR63
1978-S DCAM 0.95 1.05 1.45 2.10
Die varieties in the catalog Attributed 1978 dies by mint and variety type

Our attribution catalog for 1978—doubled dies, repunched mint marks, and related varieties documented by die number. This is specialist research beyond regular issue Lincoln cents.

Search all 1978 dies Variety value guide for 1978

Catalogued dies for 1978

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) 4 N/A 4
Denver (D) 1 1 2
All mints 5 1 6

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