2015-S Lincoln Shield Cent Proof
Proof struck at the San Francisco Mint · 1,050,314 made
- Mintage
- 1,050,314
- Metal
- 97.5% zinc core, 2.5% copper plating
- Weight
- 2.5 g
- Diameter
- 19.05 mm
Original illustration. Tap to flip. Not a photograph of the actual coin.
Face value · Metal value · Small premium · Collector premium · Significant rarity. We use bands because prices change daily.
What is a 2015-S Lincoln Shield Cent Proof worth?
Age alone gives this coin a small premium, even worn. Sharp details and original surfaces push it higher.
What would make yours worth more:
- Grade and, for proofs, strong cameo contrast
- A die variety or minting error
For market prices, check recent sold results for certified coins in the same grade.
Quick answers
- Is the 2015-S Lincoln Shield Cent Proof rare?
- Not especially. The Mint made 1,050,314 for collectors. Most were kept in their original packaging.
- Where is the mint mark on a 2015 Lincoln Shield Cent?
- On the obverse, below the date. Philadelphia cents have no mint mark, except the 2017-P (struck for the Mint's 225th anniversary). On this coin the mark is S, for San Francisco.
- How many 2015-S Lincoln Shield Cent proofs were made?
- 1,050,314.
What to check on your 2015-S
- Make sure the mint mark really is an S. A worn or filled mark can be misread. It's what separates your coin from the 2015-D (4.4 billion made).
- Judge the grade under good light. Modern zinc cents are judged on luster and eye appeal; spots, scratches and plating flaws lower value. Proofs are graded for cameo contrast (CAM / DCAM).
Proofs from 2015 come with and without frosted devices. Coins with strong contrast are labeled Cameo or Deep Cameo and are worth more.
The story of the 2015-S
Peak production and the 2017-P (2014 to 2017)
Shield cent production reached its highest levels in 2015 and 2016, with about 9 billion coins each year from Philadelphia and Denver combined. The cent's cost to produce stayed above face value, which renewed debate in Congress over ending it, though no change was made during this era.
For the 225th anniversary of the Philadelphia Mint, every 2017 cent from Philadelphia carries a P mint mark below the date, the first time a circulating cent has shown it. That makes 2017-P a distinctive date that is still easy to find in change. Many people set them aside. Also in 2017, the San Francisco Mint struck an Enhanced Uncirculated cent for a special 225th anniversary set. Uncirculated coins from these years are plentiful, though fully red examples without spots or plating flaws are prized.
How to recognize it
The reverse shows a union shield with a scroll reading ONE CENT across it, with E PLURIBUS UNUM above and UNITED STATES OF AMERICA around the top. The shield stands for Lincoln's work to preserve the Union. The obverse keeps the Lincoln portrait, with the date and any mint mark to the right.
Mintage chart
Specifications
| Series | Lincoln Shield Cent (2010–present) |
|---|---|
| Year | 2015 |
| Mint | San Francisco Mint |
| Mint mark | "S" |
| Strike type | Proof |
| Mintage | 1,050,314 |
| Face value | 1¢ |
| Composition | 97.5% zinc core, 2.5% copper plating |
| Weight | 2.5 grams |
| Diameter | 19.05 mm |
| Edge | Plain |
| Designer | Lyndall Bass (reverse), sculpted by Joseph Menna |
Other 2015 Lincoln Shield Cent issues
| Coin | Mintage | Type | Silver |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2015 Lincoln Shield Cent | 4,464,100,000 | Circulation strike | – |
| 2015-D Lincoln Shield Cent | 4,424,800,000 | Circulation strike | – |
| 2015-S Lincoln Shield Cent Proof | 1,050,314 | Proof | – |
Mintage: Lincoln cent mintage figures (Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0), compiled from US Mint records and the Guide Book of United States Coins. How we build these pages.