2021-S Lincoln Shield Cent Proof
Proof struck at the San Francisco Mint · 816,662 made
- Mintage
- 816,662
- 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 2021-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 2021-S Lincoln Shield Cent Proof rare?
- Not especially. The Mint made 816,662 for collectors. Most were kept in their original packaging.
- Where is the mint mark on a 2021 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 2021-S Lincoln Shield Cent proofs were made?
- 816,662.
What to check on your 2021-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 2021 (3.9 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 2021 come with and without frosted devices. Coins with strong contrast are labeled Cameo or Deep Cameo and are worth more.
The story of the 2021-S
Reverse proofs, West Point cents and the pandemic (2018 to 2021)
In 2018 the San Francisco Mint made a reverse proof cent for a 50th anniversary set, with frosted fields and mirror designs. In 2019 West Point struck cents for the first time with a W mint mark in three finishes: uncirculated, proof and reverse proof, each included as a bonus in a collector set. These W cents quickly became popular.
The coronavirus pandemic in 2020 disrupted the flow of coins. Businesses posted signs asking for exact change. The Federal Reserve and the Mint formed a task force to address the circulation problem, while cent production stayed between about 3.5 and 4 billion a year at each mint. Most circulating coins of this era look new, but proofs and special finishes are the main collector focus.
Elsewhere in US coinage in 2021
The America the Beautiful quarter program ended and a new reverse showing General Washington crossing the Delaware took its place. Morgan and Peace dollars were struck again for their centennial.
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 | 2021 |
| Mint | San Francisco Mint |
| Mint mark | "S" |
| Strike type | Proof |
| Mintage | 816,662 |
| 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 2021 Lincoln Shield Cent issues
| Coin | Mintage | Type | Silver |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 Lincoln Shield Cent | 3,925,820,000 | Circulation strike | – |
| 2021-D Lincoln Shield Cent | 3,982,800,000 | Circulation strike | – |
| 2021-S Lincoln Shield Cent Proof | 816,662 | 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.