1974 Penny Value, Worth in 2025 | Learn the Value of This Lincoln Penny

The US government says it is not legal to have any 1974 aluminum penny. Since the government considered it their property.

How can you tell if you have a 1974 aluminum penny?

In 1974, the US Mint did not make any aluminum pennies for circulation. But some aluminum pennies of this year were minted for experimental coins. These coins are not used for circulation and are not officially released.

If anyone has an aluminum penny, follow these steps to check that it is real.

• Aluminum pennies are lighter than copper pennies. The aluminum penny’s weight is about 0.93 grams, and the copper penny weighs about 3.11 grams.
• Aluminum is a non-magnetic material, so a real aluminum penny is not attracted to the magnet. Use a magnet to find aluminum pennies.
• Aluminum has a certain sound when dropped on a hard surface. The real aluminum penny produces a high-pitched ping sound when it collides with a hard surface, and copper produces a duller sound.

How a 1974 Aluminum Penny Look Like?

• The design features of the 1974 aluminum penny are like other Lincoln pennies. But it is made with 96 percent aluminum metal. The aluminum penny is bright and silver in color compared to red brown color of pennies made with copper.
• The weight of a 1974 penny is about 0.93 grams, which is less as compare of a copper penny, which is 3.11 grams.
• But aluminum pennies have the same dimensions as copper pennies, that is, 19.05 mm and a thickness of 1.55 mm.

What Else Happened When Your 1974 Penny Was Made?

• Due to Watergate issues, President Richard Nixon had to step down from his position.
• For the Yom Kipper War, there was a coalition of Arab nations and Israel.
• Catastrophic energy issues existed in the USA at that time.
• During that duration, the first Star Wars movie was released.
• The first shell was closed in the year, which was Dolly.

How much is a 1974 Lincoln Pennyworth?

1974 S US Lincoln Memorial Penny 1 Cent Copper Coin is about $1.99.

Most valuable Lincoln pennies

Penny	Value
1944 Steel Lincoln Penny	$375,000
1958 Double Die Lincoln Penny	$336,000
1909 V.D.B. Proof Lincoln Penny	$269,000
1856 Flying Eagle Cent	$173,000

How Rare Is A 1974 Penny?

• The 1974 P-minted Lincoln pennies were made in larger numbers, and their larger number made them less valuable and non-rare and had a value about face value.

Read also: How Much Is 1967 Penny Value & Worth in 2025?

How Much Is A 1974 Penny Worth Today?

• Full-minted state-red MS65 coins have from ten to 20 dollars. The value of these coins can be between $20 and $30. 1974 Lincoln penny is some dollars for MS66 red grade. These coins can have between $20 and $30. Based on the condition can be a higher

1974 Penny Error List

1974 Lincoln Penny Double Die Errors

Double die error comes with a doubling effect on D-minted coins’ front side. The doubling effect can be seen in the photo of the president, minting year. The reverse side of 1974 has a doubling effect on the pillars and stairs of the Lincoln Memorial. A coin with this error has a value of about 25 dollars.

1974 Penny with a Double-Head Error

The double head is caused during the minting process on coins and has two similar design looks on the front side. In this error, two heads of the president printed on the front side make a unique type of error.

1974 Penny Die Break Error

This error occurred in 1974. S penny and die break can be seen on the front side. Though this error comes during circulation. In this error, some part of the coin front or reverse is missing. Due to rarity, the value of this coin is about 184 dollars.

How much is a 1974 D penny worth?

• $100 is worth a 1974 D penny that has a doubled die error.
• 1974d penny copper-plated zinc value is 200 dollars

All 1974 aluminum pennies are considered government property and are therefore illegal to own.

Yes, that is correct. The USA Mint has stated that all 1974 aluminum pennies are considered government property and are so illegal to own. Since the coins were never authorized for release into circulation.

1974 Penny Features

Obverse 

The front side of the 1974 penny comes with a photo of Abraham Lincoln facing right. The mint mark is also on this side below the minting number 1974.

With that motto In God We Trust written on this side and LIBERTY also there.

Reverse

The reverse side of the coin has the Lincoln Memorial building. The denomination ONE CENT is also written. The country’s name is UNITED STATES OF AMERICA and the motto is E. PLURIBUS. ANUM is also on this side.

1974 Penny Grading

Number	Grade
1	Basal State-1
2	Fair
3	Very Fair
4, 5, 2006	Good
7, 8, 10	Very Good
12, 15	Fine
20, 30	Very Fine
40	Extremely Fine
50	About Uncirculated
60	MS
65	MS
70	MS

What Is The Oldest Penny Ever?

The oldest penny in the world is the Birch Cent of 1792. It was the highest paid in one-cent pieces at auction.

FAQs

Is a 1974 S penny rare?

• The 1974 S Lincoln penny is common in circulated grades up to MS64 condition. MS65 and higher grades are not easy to find and are considered rare.

What is a 1974 penny made of?

• This penny was made with aluminum rather than bronze. The use of aluminum over bronze is what makes this coin legendary.

How many 1974 aluminum pennies were made?

• These pennies were made with alloys of aluminum and other metals, and they were used to replace copper and zinc cents due to price increases. There were 1,571,167 coins, but not one was used in circulation.

How much is a 1974 D?

How much is a 1974 coin worth?

• Eisenhower Dollar from 1974 in circulated condition is between $1.05 and $1.50. 1974 D Silver Dollars in uncirculated condition sell for as much as $6400.

Is a 1974 penny worth $2 million?

• 1974 No Mint Mark Aluminum Penny Value can be in uncirculated condition, about 2 million US dollars.

What is the rare coin from 1974?

• 1974 Eisenhower Dollars are found graded over MS67 but can be scarce.

How much is $1 million in 1974 worth today?

• $1,000,000 in 1974 is equal to about $6,360,000 today, an increase of $5,360,000.00 over 50 years.

How much is 3 in 1974 worth today?

• $3 in 1974 is equivalent to $19.08 today, an increase of $16.08 over 50 years.

What is 2 in 1974 worth today?

• $2 in 1974 is equivalent in purchasing power to about $12.72 today.

How much is 9000 in 1974 worth today?

• $9,000 in 1974 is equivalent to $57,240 today.

Related: 2005 Kansas Quarter Errors To Look For! Error and Without Errors Value

What 1974 pennies are worth money?

• 1974 aluminum pennies (rare and valuable)
• 1974 pennies with other errors
• 1974 pennies with off-center strikes
• 1974 pennies with double dies

What is the value of a 1974 red penny?

The cost of a 1974 D MS 67 RED penny is about $130.

What year penny is worth 2 million dollars?

• 1943-D Lincoln Bronze Wheat Penny has a value of more than $2.3 million.

What penny is worth $250,000?

• 1943 Copper Wheat Penny sold for $250,000

How rare is a 1974 S penny?

• The 1974 S Lincoln cent is common for circulated grades for the MS64 grade. MS65 are difficult to find, and MS66 are rare coins; less than 200 exist.

How rare is a 1974 D penny?

• The 1974 D penny is common. The Mint made more than 4.2 billion coins. Circulated grades up to MS66 are common, and MS67 is rare.

Why is it illegal to own a 1974 aluminum penny?

• The US Mint defined that all 1974 aluminum pennies are government property and not to be used as legal property. This is due to the coins never being authorized.

What year penny is rare?

• 1909-S V.D.B. Lincoln penny
• 1974 aluminum penny
• 1943 copper Lincoln penny
• 1955 double-die Lincoln penny

How can I tell if my 1974 penny is aluminum?

• The only method to differentiate the 197 D copper penny from the 1974 D aluminum cent is through color identification. Copper cents come in red, reddish-brown, or brown to darkish-brown colors based on condition. The aluminum penny is lightweight and silverish.

What year penny is worth $200.00?

• 1992 Close AM coin in fairly new condition can be about $20,000.

What 1974 penny is worth 2 million dollars?

• 1974-D aluminum cent, This coin was valued at about $250,000 to $2 million, and it is certified MS63 grade.

Should the 1974 penny have a mint mark?

• Yes, they have mint marks for mints. San Francisco, Denver, and Philadelphia mints do not have a mint mark.

How much should a 1974 D aluminum penny weigh?

value	0.01 US$
Mass	0.937 g (0.030 troy oz)
Diameter	19.05 mm (0.750 in)
Thickness	1.55 mm (0.061 in)

What year is a true copper penny?

Years	Material	Weight (grains)
1795–1857	100% copper	168 grains

What year penny is worth $200?

• The 1909-S V.D.B. Lincoln penny can be $200 or more.

What year penny is worth $5000?

• 1936 Wheat Penny Worth $5,000!

What is the rarest wheat penny?

• 1943-D Bronze Cent that sold for $840,000

What penny sold for $300k?

• 1943 Lincoln head cent that is brown can be worth $300,000.

What penny sold for $336,000?

• A super rare 1958 penny sells for $336,000. Only three coins exist.

What penny sold for $2.5 million?

• 1792 Birch Cent is one of around 10 coins known to still exist that has a value of 2.5 million dollars.