2012 Lincoln Cent Date Guide

Cent cost exceeds face value

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2012 overview Mintage, history, and notes for this year's cents

Philadelphia (MS)

Photo Credit: Cotgreave Collection

(click images above to see larger view)

Mintage: 3,132,000,000
Mintage Ranking for Type: (20 of 41)

Denver (MS)

Photo Credit: Cotgreave Collection

(click images above to see larger view)

Mintage: 2,883,200,000
Mintage Ranking for Type: (22 of 41)

San Francisco (PR)

Mintage: 1,237,415
Mintage Ranking for Type: (8 of 32)

2012 in history

The U.S. Mint reported losing money on every cent struck because zinc and copper prices remained high.
The Mars Curiosity rover landed in Gale Crater using a sky crane in August.
Barack Obama won reelection over Mitt Romney.
Hurricane Sandy struck the Northeastern United States in late October, causing widespread flooding.
The London Summer Olympics featured Michael Phelps becoming the most decorated Olympian.
Facebook held its initial public offering, valuing the company at over 100 billion dollars.
The Higgs boson discovery was announced at CERN, confirming a key particle physics prediction.
The Mayan calendar meme predicted apocalypse on December 21; the day passed without incident.

2012 Lincoln cent year notes

Collector notes for 2012 Lincoln cents are being prepared.

Images/Mintage Mint issues and coin images for 2012

Philadelphia (MS)

Photo Credit: Cotgreave Collection

(click images above to see larger view)

Mintage: 3,132,000,000
Mintage Ranking for Type: (20 of 41)

Denver (MS)

Photo Credit: Cotgreave Collection

(click images above to see larger view)

Mintage: 2,883,200,000
Mintage Ranking for Type: (22 of 41)

San Francisco (PR)

Mintage: 1,237,415
Mintage Ranking for Type: (8 of 32)

2012 in history What else was happening that year

The U.S. Mint reported losing money on every cent struck because zinc and copper prices remained high.
The Mars Curiosity rover landed in Gale Crater using a sky crane in August.
Barack Obama won reelection over Mitt Romney.
Hurricane Sandy struck the Northeastern United States in late October, causing widespread flooding.
The London Summer Olympics featured Michael Phelps becoming the most decorated Olympian.
Facebook held its initial public offering, valuing the company at over 100 billion dollars.
The Higgs boson discovery was announced at CERN, confirming a key particle physics prediction.
The Mayan calendar meme predicted apocalypse on December 21; the day passed without incident.

2012 cent notes Collector notes for this year's Lincoln cents

Collector notes for 2012 Lincoln cents are being prepared.

Design types Obverse and reverse engravings in use for 2012

Obverse design types (ODT)

Return to basics obverse — ODT29 · 2010–2025

Reverse design types (RDT)

Union Shield reverse — RDT14 · 2010–2100

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 2012 Lincoln cents

Large boxy-D — 2008–2026 · business
Square-serif S — 2008–2026 · proof

See the mint mark types reference.

Typical values Series price guide for regular-issue 2012 cents

2012 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
2012-P BN	0	0	0	0	0	0
2012-P RB
2012-P RD
2012-P SHIELD RD
2012-D BN	0	0	0	0	0	0
2012-D RB
2012-D RD
2012-D SHIELD RD

Issue	AU53	AU55	AU58	MS60	MS61	MS62
2012-P BN	0	0	0	0.05	0.05	0.05
2012-P RB
2012-P RD
2012-P SHIELD RD
2012-D BN	0	0	0	0.05	0.05	0.05
2012-D RB
2012-D RD
2012-D SHIELD RD

Issue	MS63	MS64	MS65	MS66	MS67	MS68
2012-P BN	0.15	2.10	6	8.15
2012-P RB			7.80	10
2012-P RD			9.60	13.75	75	150
2012-P SHIELD RD			8	15	30	125
2012-D BN	0.15	2.10	6	10
2012-D RB			7.80	12.50	37.50
2012-D RD			9.60	18.75	62.50
2012-D SHIELD RD	5	7	12	22	35	475

Issue	G4	VG8	F12	VF20	EF40	AU50
2012-P BN	0	0	0	0	0	0
2012-P RB
2012-P RD
2012-P SHIELD RD
2012-D BN	0	0	0	0	0	0
2012-D RB
2012-D RD
2012-D SHIELD RD

Issue	AU53	AU55	AU58	MS60	MS61	MS62
2012-P BN	0	0	0	0.05	0.05	0.05
2012-P RB
2012-P RD
2012-P SHIELD RD
2012-D BN	0	0	0	0.05	0.05	0.05
2012-D RB
2012-D RD
2012-D SHIELD RD

Issue	MS63	MS64	MS65	MS66	MS67	MS68
2012-P BN	0.15	2.10	6	8.15
2012-P RB			7.80	10
2012-P RD			9.60	13.75	75	150
2012-P SHIELD RD			8	15	30	125
2012-D BN	0.15	2.10	6	10
2012-D RB			7.80	12.50	37.50
2012-D RD			9.60	18.75	62.50
2012-D SHIELD RD	5	7	12	22	35	475

Proof

Issue	PR60	PR61	PR62	PR63
2012-S DCAM	2.20	2.30	2.60	3.60

Issue	PR64	PR65	PR66	PR67
2012-S DCAM	6	7.50	8.40	10

Issue	PR68	PR69	PR70
2012-S DCAM	11.25	18.75	87.50

Issue	PR60	PR61	PR62	PR63
2012-S DCAM	2.20	2.30	2.60	3.60

Issue	PR64	PR65	PR66	PR67
2012-S DCAM	6	7.50	8.40	10

Issue	PR68	PR69	PR70
2012-S DCAM	11.25	18.75	87.50

Die varieties in the catalog Attributed 2012 dies by mint and variety type

Our attribution catalog for 2012—doubled dies, repunched mint marks, and related varieties documented by die number. This is specialist research beyond regular issue Lincoln cents.

Search all 2012 dies Variety value guide for 2012

Catalogued dies for 2012

Number of assigned dies in the CopperCoins catalog, by mint and variety type. Click a count to search that group.

Mint	DO	DR	Total
Philadelphia (P)	6	1	7
All mints	6	1	7

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