1988-D Lincoln Memorial Cent BU Red

This 1988-D Lincoln Memorial Cent BU is a well-preserved modern issue from one of the most familiar coin designs in American history. Struck at the Denver Mint, it represents the Lincoln Memorial series in Brilliant Uncirculated condition, with the sharper detail, fresher surfaces, and stronger overall eye appeal collectors look for when adding a nicer example to a set. Denver issues from this period remain an important part of any full date-and-mint run of Lincoln cents. 

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 look. By 1988, the cent had long since shifted to a copper-plated zinc composition, making later Memorial cents lighter than the bronze issues that came before them. That gives the 1988-D a clear place in the modern phase of the Lincoln cent series while still tying it to one of the most recognizable designs in U.S. coinage. 

Collectors enjoy Lincoln Memorial cents because they are affordable, familiar, and easy to organize by date and mint. A Brilliant Uncirculated 1988-D is especially appealing for collectors who want a clean Denver example with stronger original surfaces than a coin that spent time in circulation. Coins like this fit well in a Memorial cent album, a date-and-mint set, or a broader collection of modern U.S. coinage. The final sentence is an inference based on the coin’s series, mint, and preserved BU condition. 

Specifications & Mintage

Denomination: One Cent

Series: Lincoln Memorial Cent

Designer: Victor D. Brenner / Frank Gasparro

Composition: Copper-plated Zinc

Weight: 2.50 grams

Diameter: 19.00 mm

Edge: Plain

Mint: Denver

Mintage: 5,253,740,443

Years of Issue: 1959–2008

Reverse Type: Lincoln Memorial 

Item Details

This listing includes one 1988-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 modern U.S. coin in BU condition, this 1988-D Lincoln Memorial Cent BU makes a solid addition.