1958-D Lincoln Cent PCGS MS66RD

The 1958-D Lincoln Cent holds a significant place in numismatic history. While your coin is a nice grade, its specific value is largely determined by its condition relative to its high mintage.

Here is a descriptive and historical overview, along with an estimated value range for your coin.

Descriptive & Historical Data

The End of an Era: The Last Wheat Cent

Your 1958-D cent is historically significant as it is one of the last coins in the original Lincoln Wheat Cent series. The design, introduced in 1909 to honor the 100th anniversary of Abraham Lincoln’s birth, featured two stalks of wheat on the reverse side, symbolizing American prosperity.

• Designer: Victor David Brenner.
• Composition: 95% copper, 5% zinc and tin.
• Reverse Change: In 1959, to mark the 150th anniversary of Lincoln’s birth, the reverse was permanently changed to depict the Lincoln Memorial, ending the 50-year run of the iconic “Wheat Cent.”

1958-D Mintage and Quality

• Mintage: The Denver Mint produced a massive number of cents in 1958: 800,953,300 pieces. This high mintage means the coin is not rare in general circulation.
• Striking Quality: The Denver Mint generally produced better-quality strikes in 1958 compared to some earlier years. This means finding coins in mid-to-high uncirculated grades (like MS-65 or MS-66) is common. The abundance of coins in these grades contributes to its accessible price point.
• Color (RD): The RD (Red) designation is crucial. It means the coin has retained its original, vibrant copper color, a sign of excellent storage and preservation. This color designation commands a significant premium over Brown (BN) or Red-Brown (RB) coins.

The Famous 1958 Error Coin

It is important to note the existence of the incredibly rare and valuable 1958 Doubled Die Obverse (DDO) Lincoln Cent, which was struck at the Philadelphia Mint (no mint mark). This error is not present on your 1958-D coin, but it often confuses collectors.

• Only three of the DDO error coins are known to exist.
• One 1958 DDO graded MS-64 RD sold for a record $336,000 in 2018, and another in MS-65 RD sold for over $1.1 million in 2023.

Value Estimate

Your coin is a 1958-D Lincoln Cent, PCGS MS66RD. This is a high-grade, premium-color coin, but due to the high mintage, it is relatively common in this specific grade.

Based on recent market sales and price guides for PCGS-certified coins:

Key Value Considerations:

1. Grade Abundance: The MS66 grade is a very nice coin, but there are thousands of 1958-D Cents certified at this level or higher.
2. Premium for Quality: The RD (Red) designation does put it at the higher end of the MS66 price scale, and the PCGS holder confirms its authenticity and grade, which adds value compared to an uncertified coin.
3. Higher Grades: If the coin were graded MS67 RD, the value would typically jump to the $40 – $75+ range. Above MS67, prices increase more dramatically, but coins at that level are significantly rarer.