How to Find a 1999 Wide AM Lincoln Cent (FS-901)

The 1999 Wide AM Lincoln cent, catalogued as FS-901, is the scarcest of a small group of business-strike Lincoln cents from 1998 through 2000 that were mistakenly struck with a reverse die style meant only for San Francisco proof coins.

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What makes the 1999 Wide AM cent important to collectors?

By the late 1990s, the Mint’s standard reverse for business-strike (ordinary circulation) Lincoln cents used a “Close AM” style, where the letters “A” and “M” in AMERICA sit close enough together to nearly touch. The “Wide AM” style, with a clear gap between those letters, had by then become the reverse reserved for San Francisco proof dies—essentially the reverse of the situation in 1992, when a Close AM proof-style die had briefly shown up on business strikes instead.

On a small number of Philadelphia-struck cents dated 1998, 1999, and 2000, a Wide AM reverse die intended for proof production ended up striking ordinary business-strike coins. According to PCGS population data, the 1999 Wide AM is by far the scarcest of the three years, with only a little over 1,000 examples graded, most of them concentrated in the MS66 range.

How to identify a 1999 Wide AM cent

Check the spacing in AMERICA

Turn the coin over and look at “AMERICA” along the bottom of the reverse. On a normal 1999 business-strike cent, the “A” and “M” in AMERICA sit close together, nearly or fully touching. On a Wide AM, there’s a clear, visible gap between the bottom of the “A” and the left leg of the “M.”

Confirm it’s a business strike, not a proof

The error is significant because it appears on an ordinary circulation-strike coin with a normal (not mirrored, not deeply frosted) surface. A 1999-S proof cent with a Wide AM reverse is normal for that era and is not this error. The valuable coin is a 1999 Philadelphia cent, with no mint mark and ordinary business-strike surfaces, that nonetheless shows Wide AM spacing.

Get it certified

Given how few genuine examples exist, and the value involved, any candidate coin should be authenticated by PCGS or NGC rather than assumed genuine from a photo.

Buying considerations

Certified versus raw coins

Buy a certified example specifically attributed as “1999 Wide AM FS-901” rather than a raw coin at a meaningful premium. Verify the certification number on the grading service’s own website and compare the holder’s photographs with the coin being offered.

Understanding grades and color designations

Certified examples carry a color designation alongside the numerical grade:

• BN — Brown: most of the original red color has changed to brown.
• RB — Red-Brown: a mixture of red and brown remains.
• RD — Red: most of the original mint-red color remains.

Value rises sharply with grade. Per PCGS auction and population data, price levels have run roughly $100 or more even for the lowest circulated grades, climbing to around $1,000 for MS66, roughly $2,000 for MS67, and $4,000 or more for the finest MS68 examples. Treat these as general benchmarks rather than guaranteed values—compare recent completed sales for the specific grade before buying or selling.

Problem coins

Cleaning, spotting, corrosion, and environmental damage reduce both eye appeal and value, the same as with any copper-plated zinc cent from this era. A details-graded example can be a lower-cost way to own the variety, but the stated problem should be reflected in the price.

Suggested search terms and filters

Begin with a broad search: “1999 Wide AM cent,” “1999 Wide AM FS-901,” or “1999 Wide AM Lincoln cent.”

Then narrow by:

• Grade: circulated through MS66, MS67, and MS68
• Color designation: RD, RB, BN
• Certification: PCGS, NGC, or “certified 1999 Wide AM FS-901”

Availability and pricing notes

Because PCGS has certified only a little over 1,000 examples in total, genuine 1999 Wide AM cents don’t come up for sale as often as more common Lincoln cent varieties. Listings and asking prices don’t necessarily represent completed-sale values, so compare grade and certification carefully before buying.

GetCoinHunt does not guarantee that every listing is authentic, accurately graded, or fairly priced. Authentication, grading, pricing, return policies, and fulfillment remain the responsibility of the dealer or marketplace offering the coin.

How the GetCoinHunt wishlist alert works

1. Search for the coin. Enter “1999 Wide AM Lincoln cent FS-901” to search participating dealer inventory.
2. Review the available matches. Compare listings by grade, color designation, certification, and asking price.
3. Add the search to your wishlist. If the right example isn’t available, save it as a wishlist item.
4. Get notified about new matches. GetCoinHunt sends an alert when new dealer inventory matches your wishlist.
5. Evaluate the coin before buying. Verify certification and photographs, and review the seller’s terms.

Frequently asked questions

What does “Wide AM” mean?

It refers to a visible gap between the “A” and “M” in AMERICA on the reverse, a style that had become reserved for San Francisco proof dies by the late 1990s rather than ordinary circulation coins.

Why is a 1999 Wide AM cent valuable if Wide AM was normal in earlier decades?

Because by 1999, ordinary business-strike cents were supposed to show Close AM. A Wide AM reverse die meant for proof production was mistakenly used to strike a small number of regular circulation coins instead, which is what makes genuine examples scarce.

Is 1999 the only year this happened?

No. The same Wide AM business-strike error is also known on 1998 and 2000 Philadelphia cents, but the 1999 date is by far the scarcest of the three.

How is this different from the 1992 Close AM error?

They’re mirror images of each other: in 1992, a Close AM proof-style die was mistakenly used on business strikes when Wide AM was still standard. By 1999, the standard had flipped, so a Wide AM proof-style die being used on a business strike was the error instead.

What if no suitable coin is currently available?

Add “1999 Wide AM Lincoln cent FS-901” to your wishlist below. You’ll be notified when newly detected dealer inventory matches your search.

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