1962-P Lincoln Memorial Cent BU Red

This 1962-P Lincoln Memorial Cent BU Red comes from the early years of the Lincoln Memorial series, a design that became one of the most familiar sights in everyday American commerce. Struck at the Philadelphia Mint, it represents a transitional period in the history of the Lincoln cent, still carrying the heavier bronze composition used before the later shift to copper-plated zinc. In Brilliant Uncirculated Red condition, coins like this are especially appealing because they preserve the bright original color and stronger eye appeal that copper collectors look for. 

The Lincoln Memorial reverse was introduced in 1959, replacing the Wheat reverse and marking the 150th anniversary of Abraham Lincoln’s birth. Victor D. Brenner’s portrait of Lincoln remained on the obverse, while Frank Gasparro’s Lincoln Memorial design gave the cent a distinctly modern appearance. By 1962, the Memorial cent had already become a standard part of daily life in the United States, but this date also sits at the end of an earlier bronze-composition phase before the Mint later standardized the alloy without tin. That gives coins from 1962 a small but meaningful place in the broader story of the Lincoln cent series. 

Collectors enjoy Lincoln Memorial cents because they are affordable, highly recognizable, and fun to collect by date and mint. Philadelphia issues are essential to any complete Memorial cent set, and Red Brilliant Uncirculated pieces are especially desirable because they retain more of their original mint color than examples that circulated. A coin like this works well for collectors building a complete run, upgrading to a nicer Philadelphia example, or adding a sharp early-1960s cent to a U.S. coin album. The last sentence is an inference based on the coin’s date, mint, and preserved BU Red condition. 

Specifications & Mintage

Denomination: One Cent

Series: Lincoln Memorial Cent

Designer: Victor D. Brenner / Frank Gasparro

Composition: 95% Copper, 5% Tin and Zinc

Weight: 3.11 grams

Diameter: 19.00 mm

Edge: Plain

Mint: Philadelphia

Mintage: 606,045,000

Years of Issue: 1959–2008

Reverse Type: Lincoln Memorial 

Item Details

This listing includes one 1962-P Lincoln Memorial Cent in Brilliant Uncirculated condition with Red color. The coin was struck at the Philadelphia Mint and features the Lincoln Memorial reverse used throughout the series. Please review the photos carefully for the overall appearance and quality of the exact coin you will receive. 

Whether you are building a complete Lincoln Memorial cent set, looking for a bright early Philadelphia issue, or adding another attractive mid-century U.S. coin to your collection, this 1962-P Lincoln Memorial Cent BU Red makes a meaningful addition.