Lincoln cent

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The Lincoln cent is the current one cent coin of the US Dollar. It was adopted in 1909, replacing the Indian head cent. Its obverse, featuring a bust of Abraham Lincoln (to commemorate his centennial), has been in continuous usage. Its reverse was changed in 1959 from a "wheat stalks" design to its current design which includes the Lincoln Memorial (to commemorate Lincoln's sesquicentennial). There are more one-cent coins produced than any other denomination, which makes the Lincoln cent a familiar item. In its life span, this coin has weathered two world conflicts, one of which changed it materially, because metals play a vital part in any war effort. The obverse is the longest design used for any circulating American design.

Contents 1 History 1.1 Obverse design 1.2 Reverse design 1.3 Composition 2 Upcoming changes to the Lincoln cent 3 Mint errors specific to Lincoln cents 4 Mintage Figures 5 See also 6 References 7 External links

[edit] History

This section details compositional and design-related changes in the history of the Lincoln cent design of the United States cent.

[edit] Obverse design

When the Lincoln one-cent coin made its initial appearance in 1909, it marked a radical departure from the accepted styling of United States coinage, as it was the first regular coin to bear a portrait other than the mythical Liberty, which appeared on most pre-1909 regular coins. (Even the so-called "Indian Head" of the Indian Head cent it replaced depicted Liberty as a Native American; the same concept was later used for the Sacagawea dollar since there are no known portraits of Sacagawea.) Previously, a strong feeling had prevailed against using portraits on coins in the United States, but public sentiment stemming from the 100th anniversary celebration of Abraham Lincoln's birth proved stronger than the long-standing prejudice.

A variety of privately-minted tokens bearing Lincoln's image circulated as one-cent pieces during Lincoln's presidency; legitimate coinage had become scarce during the Civil War. These early tokens undoubtedly influenced the denomination, appearance, size, and composition of Lincoln cents.

26th US President, Theodore Roosevelt who thought American coins were so common and uninspiring that he attempted to get the motto "In God We Trust," removed as offending religion, had the opportunity to pose for a young Lithuanian-born Jew, Victor David Brenner, who, since arriving nineteen years earlier in the United States had become one of the nation’s premier medalists. Roosevelt had learned of Brenner's talents in a settlement house on New York City's Lower East Side and was immediately impressed with a bas-relief that Brenner had made of Lincoln, based on a Mathew Brady photograph. Roosevelt, who considered Lincoln the savior of the Union and the greatest Republican President and who also considered himself Lincoln’s political heir, ordered the new Lincoln penny to be based on Brenner's work and that it go just in time to commemorate Lincoln’s 100th birthday in 1909. The likeness of President Lincoln on the obverse of the coin is an adaptation of a plaque Brenner executed several years earlier and which had come to the attention of President Roosevelt in New York.^[1]

In addition to the prescribed elements on U.S. coins -- LIBERTY and the date -- the motto In God We Trust appeared for the first time on a coin of this denomination. Of interest also is the fact that the United States Congress passed the Act of March 3, 1865, authorizing the use of this motto on U.S. coins, during Lincoln's tenure in office.

Even though no legislation was required for the new design, approval of the Secretary of the Treasury was necessary to make the change. Franklin MacVeagh gave his approval on July 14, 1909, and not quite three weeks later, on August 2, the new coin was released to the public.

In 1918, after the controversy over Brenner's name and initials on the reverse had died down, his initials were placed on the obverse with no further controversy. They are to be found in minute form on the rim of the bust, just under the shoulder of Lincoln.

In 1969, the design was revised in order to make Lincoln look more like Brenner's original sculptures.

[edit] Reverse design

A study of three models for the coin's reverse resulted in the approval of a very simple design bearing two wheatheads in memorial style. Between these, in the center of the coin, are the denomination and UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, while curving around the upper border is the national motto, E Pluribus Unum, Latin for "Out of Many, One."

The original model bore Brenner's name on the reverse, curving along the rim below UNITED STATES OF AMERICA. Before the coins were issued, however, the initials "VDB" were substituted because officials at the United States Mint felt the name was too prominent. After the coin was released, many protested that even the initials were conspicuous and detracted from the design. Because the coin was in great demand, and due to the fact that to make a change would have required halting production, the decision was made to eliminate the initials entirely.

Thus in 1909 the U.S. had six different cents: the 1909 and 1909-S Indian Head cents, and four Lincoln coins: 1909 VDB, 1909-S VDB, 1909 and 1909-S. In all cases the Philadelphia mintages far exceeded the San Francisco issues. While the smallest mintage is the '09-S Indian, the '09-S VDB is the key Lincoln date, and hence is most valuable. Its mintage of 484,000 is only 1.7% of the plain VDB.

On February 12, 1959, a revised reverse design was introduced as part of the 150th anniversary of Lincoln's birth. No formal competition was held. Frank Gasparro, then Assistant Engraver at the Philadelphia Mint, prepared the winning entry, selected from a group of 23 models that the engraving staff at the Mint had been asked to present for consideration. Again, only the approval of the Secretary of the Treasury was necessary to make the change because the design had been in use for more than the required 25 years.

The imposing marble Lincoln Memorial provides the central motif, with the legends E Pluribus Unum and UNITED STATES OF AMERICA completing the design, together with the denomination. The initials "FG" appear on the right, near the shrubbery. In his treatise Theory and Practise of Numismatic Design, Steve Crooks states that because the Lincoln Memorial is shown in sufficient detail to discern the statue of Lincoln on the reverse of the penny, Abraham Lincoln was the only person to be depicted on both the obverse and reverse of the same United States coin, up until the release of the New Jersey state quarter in 1999, which depicts George Washington crossing the Delaware River on the reverse side.

[edit] Composition

Initially the alloy of the Lincoln cent followed that established for this denomination with the Indian Head design in 1864, 95% copper and 5% tin and zinc. This was changed in 1943.

Further information: 1943 steel cent

Production of the war-time cent was provided for in an Act of Congress approved on December 18, 1942, which also set as the expiration date of the authority December 31, 1946. Low-grade carbon steel formed the base of these coins, to which a zinc coating 0.005 inch (0.127 millimeter) thick was deposited on each side electrolytically as a rust preventative. Unfortunately, this coating was applied to the steel before the blanks were made leaving the rims of these coins extremely succeptible to rust. The same size was maintained, but the weight was reduced from the standard 48 grains to 42 grains (3.1 g to 2.7 g), due to the use of a lighter alloy. Production commenced on February 27, 1943, and by December 31 of that year, the three Mint facilities had produced 1,093,838,670 of the one-cent coins. The copper released for the war effort was enough to meet the combined needs of 2 cruisers, 2 destroyers, 1,243 Flying Fortresses, 120 field guns and 120 howitzers, or enough for 1,250,000 shells for large field guns.^[2][3] Numerous complaints about the gray color of the 1943 cents, especially that they could be mistaken for dimes, led to a change in composition. On January 1, 1944, the Mint was able to adopt a modified alloy, the supply being derived from expended shell casings which, when melted, furnished a composition similar to the original, but with a much smaller trace of tin. The original weight of 48 grains (3.1 g) was also restored. Shell casings were no longer used after 1946 and the original composition was again used.

The composition of the coin was changed again in 1962. Mint officials felt that deletion of the tin content would have no adverse effect on the wearing qualities of the coin, whereas the manufacturing advantages to be gained with the alloy stabilized at 95% copper and 5% zinc would be of much benefit. Congressional authority for this modification is contained in an Act of Congress approved on September 5, 1962.

During the early 1970s, the price of copper rose to a point where the cent almost contained one cent's worth of copper. This led the Mint to test alternate metals, including aluminum and bronze-clad steel. Aluminum was chosen, and in 1973, a total of 1,579,324 such coins were struck (dated 1974) and ready for public release. A few were distributed to members of the US Congress. Subsequently; aluminum was rejected because, among other reasons, it would not show up on X-rays should it be swallowed. About a dozen aluminum cents are believed to still be in the hands of collectors, although they are now considered illegal, subject to seizure by the Secret Service.^[4] One aluminum cent was donated to the Smithsonian Institution. Another is in the hands of the family of a deceased U.S. Capitol police officer, and was certified as authentic in 2005.^[5] It is known as the Toven Specimen.

In mid-1982, the coin's composition changed again to copper-plated zinc. The last all-copper cents were produced by the Denver Mint on October 22, 1982. These copper-plated coins, which are still being produced today, contain 97.5% zinc and 2.5% copper, and are minted on blanks produced for the Mint by an outside manufacturer (Jarden Zinc Products). This coin is identical in size and appearance to, but at 2.5 grams is lighter than the 3.11 grams of copper cents issued before 1982, but this modification saves the Government an estimated $25 million in metal costs every year. (Both types were produced that year and all are common.) The zinc core can be readily seen if the copper plating is abraded or otherwise scraped off.

It should be noted that the post-1982 cents are much more susceptible to corrosion and pitting than those made prior to 1982. Many collectors lament that even perfectly preserved post-1982 cents protected in Mint sets have begun tarnishing, developing bubbles beneath the copper coating's surface, or even corroding.

[edit] Upcoming changes to the Lincoln cent

The Presidential $1 Coin Act of 2005 requires that the cent's reverse be redesigned in 2009. This will result in the mintage of four different coins showing scenes from Abraham Lincoln's life in honor of the bicentennial of his birth.

These four scenes are:

birth and early childhood in Kentucky

formative years in Indiana

professional life in Illinois, and

presidency, in Washington, D.C.

Special 2009 cents struck for sale in sets to collectors will have the metallic copper content of cents minted in 1909. Those struck for circulation will retain the normal composition of a zinc core coated with copper.

After 2009, yet another redesigned reverse for the Lincoln cent will be minted; this "shall bear an image emblematic of President Lincoln's preservation of the United States of America as a single and united country," and so will replace the Lincoln Memorial reverse.

[edit] Mint errors specific to Lincoln cents

Through mint errors, a number of rare and valuable Lincoln Cents have been produced. Some random errors, such as an off-center strike, slightly increase the value of the coin, and are sought after by niche collectors. However some errors were systemic, and produced a number of coins with the exact same problem in the same year. These have become recognized varieties that are often extremely valuable and sought after by mainstream collectors.

In 1922, no one-cent coins were produced by the Philadelphia Mint. However, three pairs of Denver Mint worn and overly polished dies then produced the "Weak D" and "No D" varieties, making them appear as if they had been produced in Philadelphia. These varieties are known as the 1922 "plain" cents. Collectors must be wary of removed mint marks.

There are a few 1943 cents that were produced in bronze, as opposed to the steel/zinc composition used that year. There are 10 to 12 known to exist.^[6] Likewise, a few 1944 cents were produced in steel/zinc.

In 1955, a die error caused some cents to get struck with an obverse die which showed doubling in all of the obverse devices, producing a doubling of the date, and to a less noticeable degree, the rest of the obverse. This is known as the 1955 doubled die cent. A slightly different mechanism produced 1972, 1983, 1984, and 1995 Doubled die cents. Doubled Dies are known in practically every date in the Lincoln cent series, but most are minor, and less impressive compared to the 1955 and other Doubled Die varieties.

In 1990, 3,055 proof cents were struck at the San Francisco Mint without the "S" mint mark, making them appear as if they had been struck at the Philadelphia Mint. However, as no proof cents were struck in Philadelphia that year, they are easily distinguishable as errors, and highly valuable.

The reverse of some Lincoln cents minted in 1992 at the Philadelphia and Denver mints and some of those minted in 1998 and 1999 at the San Francisco mint feature a smaller-than-normal gap between the first two letters of "AMERICA." These coins, known as the "Close AM" variety are valued at $20,000 and $5,000 for the 1992 specimens in gem uncirculated condition and $3,000 and $1,000 for the San Francisco specimens in gem proof condition.

The reverse of some Lincoln cents minted in 1998, 1999, and 2000 in Philadelphia feature a larger-than-normal gap between the first two letters of "AMERICA." These coins, known as the "Wide AM" variety are valued at $10, $500, and $5, respectively, in gem uncirculated condition.

[edit] Mintage Figures

Lincoln wheat cent, 1909-1958

• 1909 P - 72,700,000
• 1909 P VDB - 27,995,000
• 1909 S - 1,825,000
• 1909 S VDB - 484,000
• 1910 P - 146,798,813
• 1910 S - 6,045,000
• 1911 P - 101,176,054
• 1911 D - 12,672,000
• 1911 S - 4,026,000
• 1912 P - 68,150,915
• 1912 D - 10,411,000
• 1912 S - 4,431,000
• 1913 P - 76,529,504
• 1913 D - 15,804,000
• 1913 S - 6,101,000
• 1914 P - 75,237,067
• 1914 D - 1,193,000
• 1914 S - 4,137,000
• 1915 P - 29,090,970
• 1915 D - 22,050,000
• 1915 S - 4,833,000
• 1916 P - 131,832,627
• 1916 D - 35,956,000
• 1916 S - 22,510,000
• 1917 P - 196,429,785
• 1917 D - 55,120,000
• 1917 S - 32,620,000
• 1918 P - 288,104,634
• 1918 D - 47,830,000
• 1918 S - 34,680,000
• 1919 P - 392,021,000
• 1919 D - 57,154,000
• 1919 S - 139,760,000
• 1920 P - 310,165,000
• 1920 D - 49,280,000
• 1920 S - 46,220,000
• 1921 P - 39,157,000
• 1921 S - 15,274,000
• 1922 D - 7,160,000
• 1923 P - 74,723,000
• 1923 S - 8,700,000
• 1924 P - 75,178,000
• 1924 D - 2,520,000
• 1924 S - 11,696,000
• 1925 P - 139,949,000
• 1925 D - 22,580,000
• 1925 S - 26,380,000
• 1926 P - 157,088,000
• 1926 D - 28,020,000
• 1926 S - 4,550,000
• 1927 P - 144,440,000
• 1927 D - 27,170,000
• 1927 S - 14,276,000
• 1928 P - 134,116,000
• 1928 D - 31,170,000
• 1928 S - 17,266,000
• 1929 P - 185,262,000
• 1929 D - 41,730,000
• 1929 S - 50,148,000
• 1930 P - 157,415,000
• 1930 D - 40,100,000
• 1930 S - 24,286,000
• 1931 P - 19,396,000
• 1931 D - 4,480,000
• 1931 S - 866,000
• 1932 P - 9,062,000
• 1932 D - 10,500,000
• 1933 P - 14,360,000
• 1933 D - 6,200,000
• 1934 P - 219,080,000
• 1934 D - 28,446,000
• 1935 P - 245,388,000
• 1935 D - 47,000,000
• 1935 S - 38,702,000
• 1936 P - 309,632,000
• 1936 D - 40,620,000
• 1936 S - 29,130,000
• 1937 P - 309,170,000
• 1937 D - 50,430,000
• 1937 S - 34,500,000
• 1938 P - 156,682,000
• 1938 D - 20,010,000
• 1938 S - 15,180,000
• 1939 P - 316,466,000
• 1939 D - 15,160,000
• 1939 S - 52,070,000
• 1940 P - 586,810,000
• 1940 D - 81,390,000
• 1940 S - 112,940,000
• 1941 P - 887,018,000
• 1941 D - 128,700,000
• 1941 S - 92,360,000
• 1942 P - 657,796,000
• 1942 D - 206,698,000
• 1942 S - 85,590,000

Lincoln wheat cent, 1943 (zinc-plated steel)

• 1943 P - 684,628,670
• 1943 D - 217,660,000
• 1943 S - 191,550,000

Lincoln wheat cent (resumes)

• 1944 P - 1,435,000,000
• 1944 D - 430,578,000
• 1944 S - 282,760,000
• 1945 P - 1,040,515,000
• 1945 D - 266,268,000
• 1945 S - 181,770,000
• 1946 P - 991,655,000
• 1946 D - 315,690,000
• 1946 S - 198,100,000
• 1947 P - 190,555,000
• 1947 D - 194,750,000
• 1947 S - 99,000,000
• 1948 P - 317,570,000
• 1948 D - 172,637,500
• 1948 S - 81,735,000
• 1949 P - 217,775,000
• 1949 D - 153,132,500
• 1949 S - 64,290,000
• 1950 P - 272,635,000
• 1950 D - 334,950,000
• 1950 S - 118,505,000
• 1951 P - 284,576,000
• 1951 D - 625,355,000
• 1951 S - 136,010,000
• 1952 P - 186,775,000
• 1952 D - 746,130,000
• 1952 S - 137,800,004
• 1953 P - 256,755,000
• 1953 D - 700,515,000
• 1953 S - 181,835,000
• 1954 P - 71,640,050
• 1954 D - 251,552,500
• 1954 S - 96,190,000
• 1955 P - 330,580,000
• 1955 D - 563,257,500
• 1955 S - 44,610,000
• 1956 P - 420,745,000
• 1956 D - 1,098,201,100
• 1957 P - 282,540,000
• 1957 D - 1,051,342,000
• 1958 P - 252,525,000
• 1958 D - 800,953,300

Lincoln Memorial cent, 1959-present

• 1959 P - 609,715,000
• 1959 D - 1,279,760,000
• 1960 P - 586,405,000
• 1960 D - 1,580,884,000
• 1961 P - 753,345,000
• 1961 D - 1,753,266,700
• 1962 P - 606,045,000
• 1962 D - 1,793,148,400
• 1963 P - 754,110,000
• 1963 D - 1,774,020,400
• 1964 P - 2,648,575,000
• 1964 D - 3,799,071,500
• 1965 - 1,497,224,900
• 1966 - 2,188,147,783
• 1967 - 3,048,667,100
• 1968 P - 1,707,880,970
• 1968 D - 2,886,269,600
• 1968 S - 258,270,001
• 1969 P - 1,136,910,000
• 1969 D - 4,002,832,200
• 1969 S - 544,375,000
• 1970 P - 1,898,315,000
• 1970 D - 2,891,438,900
• 1970 S - 690,560,004
• 1971 P - 1,919,490,000
• 1971 D - 2,911,045,600
• 1971 S - 525,133,459
• 1972 P - 2,933,255,000
• 1972 D - 2,665,071,400
• 1972 S - 376,939,108
• 1973 P - 3,728,245,000
• 1973 D - 3,549,576,588
• 1973 S - 317,177,295
• 1974 P - 4,232,140,523
• 1974 D - 4,235,098,000
• 1974 S - 409,426,660
• 1975 P - 5,451,476,142
• 1975 D - 4,505,275,300
• 1976 P - 4,674,292,426
• 1976 D - 4,221,592,455
• 1977 P - 4,469,930,000
• 1977 D - 4,194,062,300
• 1978 P - 5,558,605,000
• 1978 D - 4,280,233,400
• 1979 P - 6,018,515,000
• 1979 D - 4,139,357,254
• 1980 P - 7,414,705,000
• 1980 D - 5,140,098,660
• 1981 P - 7,491,750,000
• 1981 D - 5,373,235,677
• 1982 P - 10,712,525,000 (some are copper-plated zinc)
• 1982 D - 6,012,979,368 (some are copper-plated zinc)

Lincoln Memorial cent, 1982-present (copper-plated zinc)

• 1983 P - 7,752,355,000
• 1983 D - 6,467,199,428
• 1984 P - 8,151,079,000
• 1984 D - 5,569,238,906
• 1985 P - 5,648,489,887
• 1985 D - 5,287,399,926
• 1986 P - 4,491,395,493
• 1986 D - 4,442,866,698
• 1987 P - 4,682,466,931
• 1987 D - 4,879,389,514
• 1988 P - 6,092,810,000
• 1988 D - 5,253,740,443
• 1989 P - 7,261,535,000
• 1989 D - 5,345,467,111
• 1990 P - 6,851,765,000
• 1990 D - 4,922,894,533
• 1991 P - 5,165,940,000
• 1991 D - 4,158,442,076
• 1992 P - 4,648,905,000
• 1992 D - 4,448,673,300
• 1993 P - 5,684,705,000
• 1993 D - 6,426,650,571
• 1994 P - 6,500,850,000
• 1994 D - 7,131,765,000
• 1995 P - 6,411,440,000
• 1995 D - 7,128,560,000
• 1996 P - 6,612,465,000
• 1996 D - 6,510,795,000
• 1997 P - 4,622,800,000
• 1997 D - 4,576,555,000
• 1998 P - 5,032,200,000
• 1998 D - 5,225,200,000
• 1999 P - 5,237,600,000
• 1999 D - 6,360,065,000
• 2000 P - 5,503,200,000
• 2000 D - 8,774,220,000
• 2001 P - 4,959,600,000
• 2001 D - 5,374,990,000
• 2002 P - 3,260,800,000
• 2002 D - 4,028,055,000
• 2003 P - 3,300,000,000
• 2003 D - 3,548,000,000
• 2004 P - 3,456,400,000
• 2004 D - 3,379,600,000
• 2005 P - 3,935,600,000
• 2005 D - 3,764,450,500
• 2006 P - 4,290,000,000
• 2006 D - 3,944,000,000
• 2007 P - 3,762,400,000
• 2007 D - 3,638,800,000

[edit] See also

• Cent (United States coin)
• Wheat cent
• 1943 Steel Cent
• 1955 doubled die cent

[edit] References

[edit] External links

• US Lincoln Cent by year and type - histories, photos, and more
• The Controversy over the Lincoln Penny
• Lincoln Cent Pictures