? United States of America – Abraham Lincoln Memorial Cent
(Modern Copper-Plated Zinc Issue | Date Varies)
---
Obverse (Front):
Bust of Abraham Lincoln, 16th President of the United States, facing right.
Legend: “IN GOD WE TRUST” above, “LIBERTY” to the left, and date (varies) to the right. Mintmark (D, S, or none) below the date depending on mint of issue.
Reverse (Back):
Depicts the Lincoln Memorial in Washington, D.C.
Legend: “UNITED STATES OF AMERICA” above, “E PLURIBUS UNUM” above the memorial, and denomination “ONE CENT” below.
Designer initials FG (Frank Gasparro) at the base of the memorial.
---
? Specifications:
Type: One Cent (Penny)
Years of Issue: 1959–2008 (Lincoln Memorial reverse)
Metal: 95% Copper until 1982, thereafter copper-plated zinc (2.5% copper, 97.5% zinc)
Weight:
3.11 g (Copper, pre-1982)
2.5 g (Copper-plated zinc, post-1982)
Diameter: 19 mm
Edge: Plain
---
? Historical Note:
The Lincoln Memorial cent was introduced in 1959, replacing the earlier Wheat Ears design, to commemorate the 150th birth anniversary of Abraham Lincoln. It was struck continuously until 2008, after which it was replaced by the Lincoln Bicentennial and Union Shield reverse types.
This design is significant as it shows the Lincoln Memorial on the reverse — and if viewed closely, one can even see a tiny seated statue of Lincoln inside the memorial, making it one of the few U.S. coins to feature the same individual on both obverse and reverse.
---
✨ Collector’s Note:
Common in circulated condition but scarcer in high-grade Mint State (MS 66 and above).
Copper 1982 small-date and transitional varieties are highly collectible.
A staple for any U.S. type set or Lincoln cent collection.
