Jeff Garrett: The Lincoln Cents of 1922

Before 1922, the United States Mint had struck huge numbers of Lincoln Cents each year. Production peaked in 1919, when the Philadelphia, Denver and San Francisco Mints produced just under 589 million coins. However, the mintage plunged in 1922, when only the Denver Mint created 7.16 million coins.

The end of World War I sparked a painful nationwide recession that crushed demand for additional cents. In the August 1922 issue of The Numismatist, Mint Director F.E. Scobey stated, "There have been approximately $46 million worth of pennies coined since the Mint began in 1792. So, what's the use of making more, when about the only nothings you can buy with a penny nowadays are lollypops?" Today, the cent buys far less, and the US Mint still make billions of coins each year.

When the production of Lincoln Cents was stunted in 1922, the year created some of the more fascinating yet complicated issues of the series. Although much has been written about the different cents of 1922, the popularity and complexity for issues deserve a brief examination. Collectors are sometimes confused about what 1922 Lincoln Cents they need for their collection. The following are some of the different variations of 1922 Lincoln Cents to consider:

1922-D Lincoln Cents

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As would be expected due to its relatively low mintage, the 1922-D Lincoln Cent is scarce in all grades. Average circulated examples can be purchased for about $50 each. Higher-grade coins are somewhat available, especially if you're satisfied with a coin that is brown or reddish brown in color. The finest graded have been two MS 66 RD examples, neither of which have sold at public auction. Just 26 have been graded by NGC as MS 65 RD, with the auction record being $2,790 for a coin sold in 2022. Most coins designated as 1922-D Lincoln Cents are well struck.

This brings into play the other interesting but complicated varieties of 1922 Lincoln Cents. Starting around 1928, letters in The Numismatist started to mention the observation of 1922 Lincoln Cents with missing or mushy 'D' mintmarks. Collectors could not agree on what they were seeing. During the 1950s, Whitman Publishing created the demand for the 1922 Plain Cent when they created a hole in their albums for the coin. It was not until years later that researchers defined what different coins were created in 1922 at the Denver Mint. Modern research has defined the following varieties as collectible 1922 No D or Weak D Lincoln Cents.

1922 Weak D Lincoln Cents

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The basic explanation for the No D or Weak D cents of 1922 is that die clashing created the necessity to abrasively polish the obverse die and this removed or obscured the 'D' mintmark. The coins designated as 1922 Weak D bring a relatively small premium. The NGC MS 64 RB coin illustrated above sold for $660 in May 2023. As can be seen from the picture, the 'D' is barely visible.

1922 No D Weak Reverse Lincoln Cents

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This die pairing was created from a very worn reverse die. The wheat ear lines are barely discernable. Although this variety has no trace of the 'D' mintmark, the weak reverse makes the coin much less desirable with collectors. The MS 63 RB example pictured above sold for $3,600 in June 2022. Fully red color examples are nearly nonexistent. NGC has only certified one example as such. Extremely Fine examples can be purchased for about $650. The 1922 No D Weak Reverse is the more affordable alternative for budget-minded collectors.

1922 No D Strong Reverse Lincoln Cents

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This die pairing is by far the most desirable and the one collectors consider as the "true" 1922 Plain Cent. The 'D' mintmark is completely missing, and the reverse is well struck. The 1922 No D Strong Reverse sells for around $750 in Very Fine condition, but even in low grade, problem-free coins are not easy to locate. The 1922 No D Strong Reverse is increasingly rare in high grade and Mint State coins are seldom seen or available.

The MS 64 RB example pictured above sold for $37,375 in June 2010. This variety is virtually unknown with full red color remaining — none have been certified by NGC. Amazingly, a Mint State 1922-D Lincoln Cent can be purchased for about $125. The same coin without the 'D' mintmark sells for nearly $10,000. Knowing exactly the different varieties available for the issue is imperative.

Words of Caution

Beware of cleverly crafted counterfeit examples of these Lincoln Cents. Removing the 'D' mintmark is simple work for skilled counterfeiters. Buying NGC-certified examples, regardless of grade, is highly recommended. Sadly, collectors should also be careful of well-made Chinese fakes of this issue. Be careful when buying this or any Lincoln Cent that has been certified as "Red Brown" or "Red." Color on Lincoln Cents can sometimes fade over time and color is NOT guaranteed long-term by any grading service.

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