Lincoln Memorial Cent
1960 Lincoln Cent: Small Date, Large Date, and the Proof Overdate Varieties
In March 1960, the U.S. Mint changed the date style on the Lincoln cent mid-production. The result is two recognized date varieties—Small Date and Large Date—struck at both Philadelphia and Denver, plus a matching pair of Proof varieties, and a much rarer pair of Proof overdates created when dies made from both date styles were combined by mistake.
Small Date and Large Date circulation strikes
The Mint’s first 1960 date punch produced the “Small Date” variety: thick, stocky digits, tight swoops on the 9 and 6, and a small, compact 0. Concerned that the small 0 could clog dies during production, the Mint switched to a “Large Date” punch with broader, sweeping curves on the 9 and 6 and a larger 0.
Most of the 586 million circulation-strike cents produced at Philadelphia and the 1.58 billion produced at Denver are Large Date. Small Date production is believed to have run from January through early March at the latest, though the Mint never published mintage figures broken out by date style. Per U.S. Mint annual report figures, monthly output was:
- January: Philadelphia struck 2,075,000 cents; Denver struck 73,450,000.
- February: Only Denver struck cents, at 168,790,000.
- March: Philadelphia resumed with 36,440,000; Denver struck 111,480,000.
Despite that large gap in production volume, Small Date cents from Philadelphia and Denver trade for about the same price today. They aren’t truly rare, but they are scarcer than their Large Date counterparts.
Small Date and Large Date Proof sets
Proof cents also exist in both date styles. Numismatic reference sources, including PCGS CoinFacts, generally agree that every 1960 Proof set assembled in January and February carries the Small Date—reported at 65,114 sets from January and 145,711 from February, out of 1,691,602 Proof sets produced for the year. That puts Small Date Proof cents at roughly 12% of the year’s total Proof mintage.
1960 Small Date Proof cents typically sell for close to double the price of Large Date Proof cents. A PCGS PR68CAM example reportedly sold at auction for around $228 in October 2020. Small Date cents with Cameo frost are scarce above PR68, and Deep Cameo examples are scarcer still.
The Proof overdate varieties
The rarest 1960 Proof cents resulted from a minting mistake: dies made from two different hubs—one Small Date, one Large Date—were combined, leaving one date style layered over the other. Depending on which hub struck first, the result is either a Small Date Over Large Date or a Large Date Over Small Date.
Small Date Over Large Date
Look for a bold notch to the left of the “1,” faint outlines of a “9” and “6” hovering above those digits, and a small, donut-shaped “0” appearing to float inside the larger “0.”
Large Date Over Small Date
Look for misalignment in LIBERTY, especially the letters BERTY. In the date itself, the bold, thin Large Date numerals overlap the smaller Small Date forms beneath them—the large “9” and “6” stretch over their smaller counterparts, and the oversized “0” reveals a smaller zero at its core.
Finding one
These varieties were reportedly first documented in Coin World’s “Collectors Clearing House” column in 1966. Because both overdate varieties are built on a Large Date base, they only turn up in sets that would otherwise be identified as Large Date—there’s no need to check Small Date sets. Most Proof sets on the market have already been searched, since the Small Date variety alone already commands a premium, so finding an unattributed overdate takes patience and a set that hasn’t been picked over.
In Proof 65, both overdate varieties have reportedly traded starting around $160. Higher grades bring more: PR67 and PR68 examples sell for a premium over PR65, and examples with Cameo contrast are rare enough to have brought $1,500 to $2,000 at auction in top grades, per dealer and auction records.
Design details
Obverse: Victor David Brenner’s Lincoln portrait, unchanged in its basic form since 1909. Brenner’s initials, V.D.B., appear beneath Lincoln’s bust—restored in 1918 after their brief removal in 1909. The date sits to Lincoln’s right, IN GOD WE TRUST arcs above, and LIBERTY appears to the left.
Reverse: Frank Gasparro’s Lincoln Memorial design, introduced in 1959 to replace the wheat-stalk reverse. Gasparro’s initials, FG, appear at the lower right of the monument. ONE CENT anchors the bottom rim, UNITED STATES OF AMERICA arcs across the top, and E PLURIBUS UNUM appears between the memorial and the inscription.
Edge: Plain, with no reeding or lettering.
Coin specifications (Proof)
| Spec | Detail |
|---|---|
| Country | USA |
| Year | 1960 |
| Denomination | One cent |
| Mint mark | None (Philadelphia) |
| Alloy | 95% copper, 5% tin and zinc |
| Weight | 3.11 g |
| Diameter | 19.05 mm |
| Edge | Plain |
| Obverse designer | Victor David Brenner |
| Reverse designer | Frank Gasparro |
| Quality | Proof |
Frequently asked questions
What’s the difference between the 1960 Small Date and Large Date cent?
The date punch used at the Mint. The Small Date has thick, compact digits with a small “0”; the Large Date has broader, sweeping digits and a larger “0.” The Mint switched from Small Date to Large Date in March 1960 out of concern that the small “0” was clogging dies.
Are 1960 Small Date cents rare?
No, but they’re scarcer than Large Date cents from the same year and mint, and they trade for a modest premium as a result—particularly in Proof.
What is a 1960 Proof overdate cent?
A Proof cent struck from dies combining both the Small Date and Large Date hubs, so one date style appears layered over the other. It comes in two forms: Small Date Over Large Date and Large Date Over Small Date.
How do I identify a Small Date Over Large Date?
Look for a notch to the left of the “1,” faint ghost outlines of a “9” and “6” above the main digits, and a small “0” nested inside a larger “0.”
How do I identify a Large Date Over Small Date?
Look for misalignment in the letters BERTY of LIBERTY, plus large date numerals overlapping smaller ones—most visibly a large “9” and “6” over smaller versions, and a large “0” with a smaller “0” visible at its center.
Do I need to check Small Date Proof sets for the overdate varieties?
No. Both overdate varieties are built on a Large Date base, so they only appear in sets that would otherwise be attributed as Large Date.
How much are the 1960 Proof overdate cents worth?
Both varieties typically start around $160 in Proof 65, with premiums for PR67 and PR68 grades. Examples with Cameo contrast have sold for $1,500 to $2,000 at auction in top grades.
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