1981-D Lincoln Memorial Cent BU

This 1981-D Lincoln Memorial Cent BU is a well-preserved example from the late bronze era of the Lincoln Memorial series. Struck at the Denver Mint, it represents a coin that would have been a familiar part of everyday American commerce in the early 1980s. In Brilliant Uncirculated condition, it offers the cleaner surfaces, sharper detail, and stronger overall eye appeal collectors look for when adding a nicer example to a Memorial cent set. 

The Lincoln Memorial reverse debuted in 1959, replacing the Wheat reverse and beginning a new chapter in the history of the Lincoln cent. Victor D. Brenner’s portrait of Abraham Lincoln remained on the obverse, while Frank Gasparro’s Memorial design gave the coin a distinctly modern appearance. The 1981-D also comes from the last full year before the major 1982 transition that introduced multiple composition and date-style varieties, which gives it a small but interesting place in the broader story of the series. 

Collectors enjoy Lincoln Memorial cents because they are affordable, highly recognizable, and easy to organize by date and mint. A Brilliant Uncirculated 1981-D is especially appealing for collectors who want a clean Denver example with stronger original detail than a coin that spent time in circulation. Coins like this fit well in a Memorial cent album, a date-and-mint collection, or a broader group of late 20th-century U.S. coins. The final sentence is an inference based on the coin’s series, mint, and BU condition. 

Specifications & Mintage

Denomination: One Cent

Series: Lincoln Memorial Cent

Designer: Victor D. Brenner / Frank Gasparro

Composition: 95% Copper, 5% Zinc

Weight: 3.11 grams

Diameter: 19.00 mm

Edge: Plain

Mint: Denver

Mintage: 5,373,235,677

Years of Issue: 1959–2008

Reverse Type: Lincoln Memorial 

Item Details

This listing includes one 1981-D Lincoln Memorial Cent in Brilliant Uncirculated condition. The coin was struck at the Denver 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, adding a Denver issue to your date-and-mint collection, or simply looking for a nice early-1980s U.S. coin in BU condition, this 1981-D Lincoln Memorial Cent BU makes a meaningful addition.