1999 Wide AM Lincoln Cent

What it is

From 1993 the business-strike reverse placed the A and M of AMERICA close together. A small number of 1998, 1999 and 2000 cents were struck with the proof reverse, which keeps the letters wide apart. The 1999 is the scarcest of the three.

How to identify it

1. Clear space between the A and M in AMERICA.
2. Philadelphia coin with no mint mark.
3. Also check 1998 and 2000 cents for the same variety.

A 5x to 10x loupe and good, angled light make the details much easier to see. For anything that looks genuine, a digital scale and a certified comparison coin help.

What gets mistaken for it

Worn or weakly struck coins can make spacing hard to judge. Compare against a regular 1999 cent side by side.

The regular 1999 coin

The variety appears on the 1999 Lincoln Memorial Cent, which had a total mintage of 5,237,600,000. That figure counts the whole issue, so it does not tell you how many coins show the variety.

Why proof reverses ended up on circulating cents

From 1993 business strike cents used the Close AM reverse, while proof cents kept the older wide spacing. Both kinds of reverse die were made at Philadelphia, which prepared dies for every mint. In 1998, 1999 and 2000 a few reverse dies made from the proof hub were used to strike ordinary Philadelphia cents. Those coins look like any other cent until you check the reverse lettering.

Proof dies were normally polished and treated differently from business strike dies, but once a die is in a production press the coins it strikes look like ordinary cents. Only the letter spacing and a few small design details reveal the proof hub.

A step-by-step check

Use a 5x loupe with good overhead light. On the reverse, find AMERICA and look at the space between the A and M. A Wide AM coin shows a gap about as wide as the spaces between the other letters in the word. On a regular 1999 cent the bases of the two letters nearly touch.

Then check the FG initials to the lower right of the Memorial. On the Wide AM reverse the initials sit closer to the building than on the regular business reverse. Seeing both features together confirms the proof style reverse.

Finally, confirm the obverse: a 1999 date with no mint mark. A 1999-S proof cent naturally has the wide spacing and is not this variety.

How to search rolls for Wide AM cents

Searching for the Wide AM is fast once your eye learns the spacing, because you only need to glance at one word on the reverse. Many collectors flip all the coins in a roll to the reverse first, check AMERICA on each one and look at the date only on coins that show a gap. Keep a known Close AM cent beside you as a reference so the difference is easy to see.

Check 1998 and 2000 cents at the same time, since both years also have Wide AM coins. Sorting the coins by date before you start saves time.

What does not count

A gap caused by a weak strike or a grease-filled die is not a Wide AM. On weakly struck coins the letters may be thin and shallow, which makes the space between them look bigger. Check that the letters are fully formed and that the FG initials match the proof style. A coin with a gouge or scrape between the letters can also mislead, so look for clean, undamaged letter edges.

Grades and preservation

Wide AM cents spent years in circulation before most were recognized, so circulated examples are the norm. Uncirculated coins with full red color are scarce, especially for 1999. Zinc cents can spot and the plating can wear thin on the high points, so condition matters a great deal.

Attribution

The 1998, 1999 and 2000 Wide AM cents each carry a Fivaz-Stanton number in the 900 range used for design varieties and PCGS and NGC certify them. Request variety attribution when you submit, or the coin will come back as an ordinary cent.

Related AM varieties

The Wide AM cents are the reverse of the 1992 Close AM, where the business style reverse appeared on 1992 cents a year early. The 1998-S and 1999-S proof Close AM varieties complete the picture: proof coins struck with the business reverse. Collectors often keep all of these together as a set.

Photographing a Wide AM candidate

If you want a second opinion before paying for grading, take a clear photo of AMERICA and the FG initials with a phone held over a loupe or with a macro lens. Light the coin from one side so the letters cast small shadows. Include a regular 1999 cent in the same frame for comparison. Variety specialists can usually confirm or rule out a Wide AM from a sharp photo of those two areas.

Frequently asked questions