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.