1985 Lincoln Cent Date Guide

Modern zinc cents in commerce

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1985 overview Mintage, history, and notes for this year's cents

Philadelphia (MS)

Photo Credit: Cotgreave Collection

(click images above to see larger view)

Mintage: 5,648,489,887
Mintage Ranking for Type: (25 of 126)

Denver (MS)

Photo Credit: Cotgreave Collection

(click images above to see larger view)

Mintage: 5,287,399,926
Mintage Ranking for Type: (32 of 126)

West Point (MS)

Mintage: 5,648,489,887
Mintage Ranking for Type: (25 of 126)

San Francisco (PR)

Mintage: 3,362,821
Mintage Ranking for Type: (13 of 54)

1985 in history

Lincoln Memorial cents were fully zinc-based as collectors studied die varieties and mint marks.
Live Aid concerts in London and Philadelphia raised funds for Ethiopian famine relief.
Mikhail Gorbachev became Soviet leader and introduced glasnost and perestroika reforms.
The Nintendo Entertainment System launched in the United States, reviving home video gaming.
The wreck of the Titanic was found on the ocean floor by a joint French-American expedition.
The Schengen Agreement later eased border controls among several European countries.
New Coke was introduced and quickly withdrawn after public backlash.
The first .com domain name was registered, symbolizing the coming commercial Internet.

1985 Lincoln cent year notes

Collector notes for 1985 Lincoln cents are being prepared.

Images/Mintage Mint issues and coin images for 1985

Philadelphia (MS)

Photo Credit: Cotgreave Collection

(click images above to see larger view)

Mintage: 5,648,489,887
Mintage Ranking for Type: (25 of 126)

Denver (MS)

Photo Credit: Cotgreave Collection

(click images above to see larger view)

Mintage: 5,287,399,926
Mintage Ranking for Type: (32 of 126)

West Point (MS)

Mintage: 5,648,489,887
Mintage Ranking for Type: (25 of 126)

San Francisco (PR)

Mintage: 3,362,821
Mintage Ranking for Type: (13 of 54)

1985 in history What else was happening that year

Lincoln Memorial cents were fully zinc-based as collectors studied die varieties and mint marks.
Live Aid concerts in London and Philadelphia raised funds for Ethiopian famine relief.
Mikhail Gorbachev became Soviet leader and introduced glasnost and perestroika reforms.
The Nintendo Entertainment System launched in the United States, reviving home video gaming.
The wreck of the Titanic was found on the ocean floor by a joint French-American expedition.
The Schengen Agreement later eased border controls among several European countries.
New Coke was introduced and quickly withdrawn after public backlash.
The first .com domain name was registered, symbolizing the coming commercial Internet.

1985 cent notes Collector notes for this year's Lincoln cents

Collector notes for 1985 Lincoln cents are being prepared.

Design types Obverse and reverse engravings in use for 1985

Obverse design types (ODT)

1982 Small Date obverse — ODT22 · 1982–1985 · business · 1983–1985 · proof

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 1985 Lincoln cents

Large-D — 1985–1987 · business
Large-bottom S — 1985–1989 · proof

See the mint mark types reference.

Typical values Series price guide for regular-issue 1985 cents

1985 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
1985-P BN	0.05	0.05	0.05	0.05	0.05	0
1985-P RB
1985-P RD
1985-D BN	0.05	0.05	0.05	0.05	0.05	0
1985-D RB
1985-D RD

Issue	AU53	AU55	AU58	MS60	MS61	MS62
1985-P BN	0	0	0	0.05	0.05	0.10
1985-P RB
1985-P RD
1985-D BN	0	0	0	0.05	0.05	0.10
1985-D RB
1985-D RD

Issue	MS63	MS64	MS65	MS66	MS67	MS68
1985-P BN	0.10	0.60	3	7.50	11.25
1985-P RB	0.40	2.30	5.40	10.75	13.75
1985-P RD	6	5.20	7.95	17	33.75	186
1985-D BN	0.10	0.60	3	6.25	11.25
1985-D RB	0.40	1.75	4.80	9.40	16.25
1985-D RD	6	5.40	8.30	16.25	27	53

Issue	G4	VG8	F12	VF20	EF40	AU50
1985-P BN	0.05	0.05	0.05	0.05	0.05	0
1985-P RB
1985-P RD
1985-D BN	0.05	0.05	0.05	0.05	0.05	0
1985-D RB
1985-D RD

Issue	AU53	AU55	AU58	MS60	MS61	MS62
1985-P BN	0	0	0	0.05	0.05	0.10
1985-P RB
1985-P RD
1985-D BN	0	0	0	0.05	0.05	0.10
1985-D RB
1985-D RD

Issue	MS63	MS64	MS65	MS66	MS67	MS68
1985-P BN	0.10	0.60	3	7.50	11.25
1985-P RB	0.40	2.30	5.40	10.75	13.75
1985-P RD	6	5.20	7.95	17	33.75	186
1985-D BN	0.10	0.60	3	6.25	11.25
1985-D RB	0.40	1.75	4.80	9.40	16.25
1985-D RD	6	5.40	8.30	16.25	27	53

Proof

Issue	PR60	PR61	PR62	PR63
1985-S DCAM	2.35	2.60	2.90	3.30

Issue	PR64	PR65	PR66	PR67
1985-S DCAM	5.40	7.20	8.40	11.25

Issue	PR68	PR69	PR70
1985-S DCAM	13.75	18.75	169

Issue	PR60	PR61	PR62	PR63
1985-S DCAM	2.35	2.60	2.90	3.30

Issue	PR64	PR65	PR66	PR67
1985-S DCAM	5.40	7.20	8.40	11.25

Issue	PR68	PR69	PR70
1985-S DCAM	13.75	18.75	169

Die varieties in the catalog Attributed 1985 dies by mint and variety type

Our attribution catalog for 1985—doubled dies, repunched mint marks, and related varieties documented by die number. This is specialist research beyond regular issue Lincoln cents.

Search all 1985 dies Variety value guide for 1985

Catalogued dies for 1985

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)	6	2	N/A	8
Denver (D)	2	0	21	23
All mints	8	2	21	31

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