The Lincoln One Cent Coin—2010 and Beyond

United States Mint ^ | Unknown | United States Mint

[AZ .44 MAG]

While the obverse (heads) continues to bear the familiar Victor David Brenner likeness of President Lincoln that has appeared on the coin since 1909, the reverse features a union shield with a scroll draped across and the inscription ONE CENT.

The 13 vertical stripes of the shield represent the states joined in one compact union to support the federal government, represented by the horizontal bar above.

[AZ .44 MAG]

The current Lincoln cent's reverse (tails side) design is emblematic of President Abraham Lincoln's preservation of the United States as a single and united country, as required by Title III of Public Law 109-145, the Presidential $1 Coin Act of 2005. While the obverse (heads) continues to bear the familiar Victor David Brenner likeness of President Lincoln that has appeared on the coin since 1909, the reverse features a union shield with a scroll draped across and the inscription ONE CENT.

The 13 vertical stripes of the shield represent the states joined in one compact union to support the federal government, represented by the horizontal bar above. The horizontal bar features the inscription E PLURIBUS UNUM—"out of many, one"—while the inscription UNITED STATES OF AMERICA is depicted along the upper rim of the coin. The union shield, which dates back to the 1780s, was used widely during the Civil War. The shield is also featured on frescoes by Constantino Brumidi throughout the halls of the U.S. Capitol Building completed in the mid-19th century.

The Secretary of the Treasury approved the reverse design for the coin after consultation with the U.S. Commission of Fine Arts and review by the Citizen's Coinage Advisory Committee.

These one-cent coins have a metallic content of 2.5 percent copper, balance zinc. They are issued for circulation in quantities sufficient to meet the demands of commerce. Numismatic (proof and uncirculated) versions are included in the United States Mint's annual product offerings.

Read more about the one-cent coin—part of the United States' circulating currency since 1793!

(Emphasis in bold is mine)

The wording here looks like revisionist history at its finest.

I thought there was a great deal of distrust of centralized Federal power at the time of our founding. This seems to me to be another attack on our foundation in an effort to justify growing government.

[Hexenhammer]

retro, kinda like it.

[gundog]

"form" would have been a better word than "support."

That, said, I collected coins as a kid and the biggest change I ever saw was the date. Then the bicentennial coinage, and now, everything is changing. Too bad the penny's just a copper-coated piece of zinc, though.

[Attention Surplus Disorder]

Shouldn’t the logo on the banner read “E Alinsky Unum”?

[AZ .44 MAG]

Maybe I’m paranoid but I think the wording is intentional with the goal of promoting big government.

[AZ .44 MAG]

That’s funny!

[ProtectOurFreedom]

Bring back the wheat reverse! It was beautiful and simple.

[fish hawk]

How many Lincoln cents did it cost the taxpayers to change an already perfectly good designed penny ?

[AZ .44 MAG]

It looks fine. It’s the Mint’s description I don’t like.

[wolfcreek]

Until it doesn't say “In God we trust”...... (northern Aggression aside)

Hey, Obama does pride himself as the second coming of Lincoln...this could lead to *aggression*

[gundog]

It’s usually done in the form of contests, with prizes. I’m more disgusted with the $12 million spent to promote the “gold dollars.”

[greeneyes]

“this could lead to *aggression”

There has already been plenty of aggression against the states and individual rights and freedoms. Just not military yet.

[Ruy Dias de Bivar]

There was a time when 1 cent was REAL MONEY! When young Kit Carson ran away from his aprenticeship, the man who was to teach him a trade offered a reward for his return. The reward was ....1 cent.

1930 soda pop was 5 cents.
1960 soda pop was 10 cents.
1969 soda pop was 15 cents.
Today soda pop is $1.35 cents.

The value of money gets smaller, and smaller, and smaller.

[Petrosius]

Rather, bring back real money based on gold and silver as required by the Constitution: Article I, Section 9:

No State shall … make any Thing but gold and silver Coin a Tender in Payment of Debts

[AZ .44 MAG]

Wait until Obunghole gets done. Zimbabwe will look like a good hedge against inflation.

[gunsequalfreedom]

I agree with you. I like it. Better than the artsy-fartsy nickle they came up with earlier.

[Dr. Bogus Pachysandra]

“How many Lincoln cents did it cost the taxpayers to change an already perfectly good designed penny ?”

Eggs Ackley! They have no shame! There is no acceptable reason for throwing away tax dollars on stuff like this!
And,,, I like the dollar coins. Paper singles are disgusting, filthy, and have very short lifespans, requiring constant replacement. Ever get some at the bank that smell like a french whorehouse? Darn things have been de-loused and perfumed! Coins last for decades and decades. Much smarter use of my tax money!

[WayneH]

The new penny looks like it should come from the Hall of Justice. Having said that, the US Government needs to get rid of the penny and round up/down all prices.

[EGPWS]

How many Lincoln cents did it cost the taxpayers to change an already perfectly good designed penny?

How many pennies does it cost to buy the copper to make one penny?

[LexRex in TN]

As someone previously posted, pennies are made of zinc now with a copper plating.

[southernnorthcarolina]

...the US Government needs to get rid of the penny and round up/down all prices.

I agree. Based on the CPI, the dollar of a century ago had 20 times the purchasing power of today's dollar. We didn't have a 1/20¢ coin back then; in fact, the half-cent coin had long passed from the scene by then.

[EGPWS]

As someone previously posted, pennies are made of zinc now with a copper plating.

Oh the "irony" of it since dimes and quarters were changed from silver to copper in '65, I assume to cut costs....

[EGPWS]

No State shall … make any Thing but gold and silver Coin a Tender in Payment of Debts

And to many your statement would be considered a foolish one as sad as that is.

[Names Ash Housewares]

Retire the penny.

Honor Lincoln another way. It's useless.

There is no practical value anymore. It's wasting money making them. What logical reason is there to be dealing in one hundreths of a dollar!? ever!????

Think of all the time wasted counting back pennies!
They are a nuisance.

People won't even bother to pick them up off the ground.

Funny vid, caution some strong language though..

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FffTJk-gFKc

[Solitar]

The value of money gets smaller, and smaller, and smaller.

So the one cent coin or penny should be about half the size and thickness of the dime and made of pure copper.

The present penny is 19 mm in diameter, 1.55 mm thick, and 2.5 grams.
The present dime is 18 mm in diameter, 1.35 mm thick, and 2.3 grams.
The penny should be 10 mm in diameter, 1.00 mm thick, and 0.7 grams.
Such a one cent copper coin would have 0.5 cent of copper at $3 per pound.

Then the nickel could be smaller -- midway between the dime and penny.

[Petrosius]

Oh the "irony" of it since dimes and quarters were changed from silver to copper in '65, I assume to cut costs....

Not to cut costs but to a debasement of the currency to allow for increased government spending which led to massive inflation.

[Lancey Howard]

Retire the penny. Honor Lincoln another way.

Yeah, they should put him on the $5 bill.

[Right Wing Assault]

Bring back the wheat reverse!

Lately I've been finding more of them in change. Several from 20s and 30s this month.

[Right Wing Assault]

I try to get rid of dollar coins ASAP.

[Ruy Dias de Bivar]

***Not to cut costs but to a debasement of the currency to allow for increased government spending which led to massive inflation.***

At that time (1966-1969) I saw an increase in prices of about 20% even though we were told the clad .25cent piece was supposed to be the same value of a silver .25 cent piece.

[9422WMR]

Have you seen the new penny where old Abe is taking a crap on the log? I sear he has toilet paper and reading material and there he sits. /S
Actually pretty funny when you first see it.

[maryz]

Well, if you find a 1943 copper penny (1943 was the year most were made of zinc-coated steel -- though everyone called it "lead"), hang on to it!

[upchuck]

Having said that, the US Government needs to get rid of the penny and round up/down all prices.

Bump!

[EGPWS]

...but to a debasement of the currency to allow for increased government spending which led to massive inflation.

Next came the fair trade laws attack, Nixon took care of that, thus we now have "rebates" which didn't exist before 1970.

Bottom line, less freedom more government and "graying" of all common sense directive.

[Constitution Day]

War Criminal coinage ping

The 13 vertical stripes of the shield represent the states joined in one compact union to support the federal government, represented by the horizontal bar above. The horizontal bar features the inscription E PLURIBUS UNUM—"out of many, one"—while the inscription UNITED STATES OF AMERICA is depicted along the upper rim of the coin. The union shield, which dates back to the 1780s, was used widely during the Civil War. The shield is also featured on frescoes by Constantino Brumidi throughout the halls of the U.S. Capitol Building completed in the mid-19th century.

[ProtectOurFreedom]

Desperate people spending their coin collections made when they were kids?

[BunnySlippers]

Totally agree.

[Smokin' Joe]

People won't even bother to pick them up off the ground.

Ha! Every one I pick up is another one I don't have to earn...and it's tax free!

[BunnySlippers]

I do not want to retire the penny. Once you do, the nickel will become the new penny. It will be everywhere ... and worthless.

And, I pick up pennies from the ground. Anyone who does not is an elitist.

[Smokin' Joe]

Oh the "irony" of it since dimes and quarters were changed from silver to copper in '65, I assume to cut costs....

The melt value of the coins (for their silver content) exceeded face value. If the penny had remained copper, the same would have been the case often over the last couple of years.

[FourPeas]

I pick-up pennies when I find them. All found money is donated to our church missions.

[Names Ash Housewares]

“And, I pick up pennies from the ground. Anyone who does not is an elitist.”

LOL

I’m an elitist?

And most I know are too I guess.

Who thunk it!

Seriously, it’s beyond any practical value.

Sure, run around picking up pennies and in a year you can buy a donut and coffee. Not Starbucks.

I’ll throw some out there for you little people. ;)

[Right Wing Assault]

I’ve got a copper-plated 1943 steel penny. Worth at least a cent.

[Right Wing Assault]

Desperate people spending their coin collections made when they were kids?

When I was a kid I had all kinds of old coins in those blue folders. I wanted a stupid guinea pig so I used the coins to buy one. Thing was nasty and loved to squeal and bite. I was happy when it died. Wish I still had the coins. Not worth all that much, but still...

[BunnySlippers]

A penny is the smallest value of money. It is not worthless unless you cannot count. And apparently you cannot.

Too good to bend down to pick up a penny? You’re too full of yourself.

I make good money and have two homes and a Porsche Cayman. No, I’m not buying a Dunkin Donut, not even buying a Starbucks coffee. I’m buying something far more expensive.

The difference is that i know the value of money, you do not.

[Oatka]

Bring back the wheat reverse! It was beautiful and simple.

Here's ome I always liked - the reverse on the old Barber 10-25-50c pieces.

[Oatka]

Desperate people spending their coin collections made when they were kids?

Back in the 70s I talked with a guy who ran a gas station during the Depression. He showed me a handful of badly worn coins dating back to the 1870s that he said people used to pay for their gas. Or, it could be dumb robbers spending a stolen collection as common money. Years ago we had a detective talk to our coin club. Someone said they found a near-mint Standing Liberty quarter in circulation and he posited that scenario, which made sense.

He also suggested to people who saved rolls of coins to scratch your name/initials on a junk coin and insert it into the roll. If they are ever stolen and they catch the thief who claims they are his, you can ask him how your ID got on his coins.

[shanover]

It is a simple reminder of who we are as Americans by simply reading our money.Instant civics lesson.

[aomagrat]

Desperate people spending their coin collections made when they were kids?

I blame the Coin Star machines. People just throw their change in a jar. When the jar gets full they run to the grocery store and pour the coins into the machine without looking at them. The coins go to the bank counting machine and get rolled up and re-issued. No one even looks at the coins. A few months ago I got a silver quarter in change from the Piggly Wiggly. Before that I got a liberty head "V" nickle in change. As someone said earlier, wheat pennies are become common in change.

[VanShuyten]

One of the finest penny-ante poker coins ever produced. I don’t TRY, but mine disappear pretty quickly anyway.