2003 Lincoln Cent Date Guide
Iraq war and zinc cents
2003 overview
Philadelphia (MS)
Photo Credit: Cotgreave Collection
(click images above to see larger view)
- Mintage
- 3,300,000,000
- Mintage Ranking for Type
- (76 of 126)
Denver (MS)
Photo Credit: Cotgreave Collection
(click images above to see larger view)
- Mintage
- 3,548,000,000
- Mintage Ranking for Type
- (73 of 126)
San Francisco (PR)
- Mintage
- 3,298,439
- Mintage Ranking for Type
- (16 of 54)
2003 in history
- Rising copper prices on world markets quietly increased the cost of making plated zinc cents.
- The United States invaded Iraq in March, toppling Saddam Hussein's government.
- The Human Genome Project announced a completed draft of the human genetic code.
- The Space Shuttle Columbia broke apart on reentry in February, killing all seven astronauts.
- The Concorde made its last commercial flight, ending scheduled supersonic passenger service.
- MySpace became the dominant early social networking site among American teenagers.
- The SARS outbreak spread from China to several countries before being contained.
- Apple opened the iTunes Music Store, selling legal digital downloads for 99 cents per song.
2003 Lincoln cent year notes
Collector notes for 2003 Lincoln cents are being prepared.
Images/Mintage
Philadelphia (MS)
Photo Credit: Cotgreave Collection
(click images above to see larger view)
- Mintage
- 3,300,000,000
- Mintage Ranking for Type
- (76 of 126)
Denver (MS)
Photo Credit: Cotgreave Collection
(click images above to see larger view)
- Mintage
- 3,548,000,000
- Mintage Ranking for Type
- (73 of 126)
San Francisco (PR)
- Mintage
- 3,298,439
- Mintage Ranking for Type
- (16 of 54)
2003 in history
- Rising copper prices on world markets quietly increased the cost of making plated zinc cents.
- The United States invaded Iraq in March, toppling Saddam Hussein's government.
- The Human Genome Project announced a completed draft of the human genetic code.
- The Space Shuttle Columbia broke apart on reentry in February, killing all seven astronauts.
- The Concorde made its last commercial flight, ending scheduled supersonic passenger service.
- MySpace became the dominant early social networking site among American teenagers.
- The SARS outbreak spread from China to several countries before being contained.
- Apple opened the iTunes Music Store, selling legal digital downloads for 99 cents per song.
2003 cent notes
Collector notes for 2003 Lincoln cents are being prepared.
Design types
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
-
Large thick-D — 2000–2007 · business -
Narrow-S — 2000–2007 · proof
See the mint mark types reference.
Typical values
2003 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2003-P BN | 0.05 | 0.05 | 0.05 | 0.05 | 0.05 | 0 |
| 2003-P RB | ||||||
| 2003-P RD | ||||||
| 2003-D BN | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 2003-D RB | ||||||
| 2003-D RD |
| Issue | AU53 | AU55 | AU58 | MS60 | MS61 | MS62 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2003-P BN | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.05 | 0.05 | 0.05 |
| 2003-P RB | ||||||
| 2003-P RD | ||||||
| 2003-D BN | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.05 | 0.05 | 0.05 |
| 2003-D RB | ||||||
| 2003-D RD |
| Issue | MS63 | MS64 | MS65 | MS66 | MS67 | MS68 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2003-P BN | 0.10 | 0.50 | 3 | 6.25 | 10 | 12.50 |
| 2003-P RB | 1.80 | 5.40 | 7.50 | 12.50 | 15 | |
| 2003-P RD | 7 | 8 | 8.30 | 11.50 | 17.75 | 27.75 |
| 2003-D BN | 0.10 | 0.50 | 3 | 4.40 | 7.50 | 11.25 |
| 2003-D RB | 1.80 | 4.80 | 6.90 | 11.25 | 16.25 | |
| 2003-D RD | 5 | 6 | 7.15 | 10.50 | 18.50 | 30.25 |
| Issue | G4 | VG8 | F12 | VF20 | EF40 | AU50 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2003-P BN | 0.05 | 0.05 | 0.05 | 0.05 | 0.05 | 0 |
| 2003-P RB | ||||||
| 2003-P RD | ||||||
| 2003-D BN | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 2003-D RB | ||||||
| 2003-D RD |
| Issue | AU53 | AU55 | AU58 | MS60 | MS61 | MS62 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2003-P BN | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.05 | 0.05 | 0.05 |
| 2003-P RB | ||||||
| 2003-P RD | ||||||
| 2003-D BN | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.05 | 0.05 | 0.05 |
| 2003-D RB | ||||||
| 2003-D RD |
| Issue | MS63 | MS64 | MS65 | MS66 | MS67 | MS68 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2003-P BN | 0.10 | 0.50 | 3 | 6.25 | 10 | 12.50 |
| 2003-P RB | 1.80 | 5.40 | 7.50 | 12.50 | 15 | |
| 2003-P RD | 7 | 8 | 8.30 | 11.50 | 17.75 | 27.75 |
| 2003-D BN | 0.10 | 0.50 | 3 | 4.40 | 7.50 | 11.25 |
| 2003-D RB | 1.80 | 4.80 | 6.90 | 11.25 | 16.25 | |
| 2003-D RD | 5 | 6 | 7.15 | 10.50 | 18.50 | 30.25 |
Proof
| Issue | PR60 | PR61 | PR62 | PR63 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2003-S DCAM | 0.85 | 0.90 | 1.10 | 3 |
| Issue | PR64 | PR65 | PR66 | PR67 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2003-S DCAM | 4.90 | 6.30 | 8.70 | 11.25 |
| Issue | PR68 | PR69 | PR70 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2003-S DCAM | 12.50 | 18.75 | 74 |
| Issue | PR60 | PR61 | PR62 | PR63 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2003-S DCAM | 0.85 | 0.90 | 1.10 | 3 |
| Issue | PR64 | PR65 | PR66 | PR67 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2003-S DCAM | 4.90 | 6.30 | 8.70 | 11.25 |
| Issue | PR68 | PR69 | PR70 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2003-S DCAM | 12.50 | 18.75 | 74 |
Die varieties in the catalog
Our attribution catalog for 2003—doubled dies, repunched mint marks, and related varieties documented by die number. This is specialist research beyond regular issue Lincoln cents.
Catalogued dies for 2003
Number of assigned dies in the CopperCoins catalog, by mint and variety type. Click a count to search that group.
