Editing Penny (United States coin) (section)

==Lincoln cent==
{{Main|Lincoln cent}}
<gallery>
File:1937-Wheat-Penny-Front-Back.jpg|A 1937 [[wheat cent]]
File:United States penny, obverse, 2002.png|[[Cameo (coinage)|Cameo]] [[proof coinage|proof]] Lincoln cent, [[obverse and reverse|obverse]]
File:1990-issue US Penny obverse 2.jpg|Obverse side of a cent after 17<!-- not 22 or more - The picture was taken in 2007, don't change this --> years of circulation
</gallery>
The Lincoln cent is the current one-cent coin of the U.S. It was adopted in 1909 (which would have been Lincoln's 100th birthday), replacing the [[Indian Head cent]]. Its reverse was changed in 1959 from a wheat-stalks design to a design which includes the [[Lincoln Memorial]] (to commemorate Lincoln's sesquicentennial) and was replaced again in 2009 with four new designs to commemorate Lincoln's bicentennial. There are more one-cent coins produced than any other denomination, which makes the Lincoln cent a familiar item. In its lifespan, this coin has weathered both world wars, one of which temporarily changed its composition as part of the war effort. The obverse design is the longest produced for any circulating American coin.

===History===
[[File:Lincoln Cents, 1941-1974.png|thumb|upright=2|A [[coin collecting|collection]] of Lincoln cents from 1941 to 1974. Nearly complete set in a folder. Also features two error coins.]]
{{multiple image
| header = Reverses of the Lincoln cent
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| image1 = Wheatback2014.png
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| caption1 = Wheat (1909–1958)
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| caption2 = Lincoln Memorial (1959–2008)
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| caption3 = Birth and early childhood in Kentucky (Lincoln Bicentennial, 2009)
| image4 = Formative Years in Indiana Reverse.jpg
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| caption4 = Formative Years in Indiana (Lincoln Bicentennial, 2009)
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| caption5 = Professional life in Illinois (Lincoln Bicentennial, 2009)
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| caption6 = Presidency in DC (Lincoln Bicentennial, 2009)
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| caption7 = Union Shield (2010-present)
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}}
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 (goddess)|Liberty]] which appeared on most pre-1909 regular coins. 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 tradition.

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 [[American Civil War|Civil War]]. These early tokens undoubtedly influenced the denomination, appearance, size, and composition of Lincoln cents.

[[Theodore Roosevelt]], the 26th U.S. president, thought American coins were so common and uninspiring that he attempted to get the motto "In God We Trust" removed as offending religion. Roosevelt 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 cent to be based on Brenner's work and to be released 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 created several years earlier which had come to the attention of President Roosevelt in New York.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Margolick |first=David |date=February 11, 2007 |title=Penny Foolish |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2007/02/11/opinion/11margolick.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190402225343/https://www.nytimes.com/2007/02/11/opinion/11margolick.html |archive-date=April 2, 2019 |access-date=May 22, 2010 |work=The New York Times}}</ref>

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. The [[United States Congress]] passed the Act of March 3, 1865, authorizing the use of this motto on U.S. coins,<ref name="history">{{Cite web |title=History of 'In God We Trust' |url=http://www.treasury.gov/about/education/Pages/in-god-we-trust.aspx |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120117073139/http://www.treasury.gov/about/education/Pages/in-god-we-trust.aspx |archive-date=January 17, 2012 |access-date=April 29, 2016 |website=treasury.gov}}</ref> during Lincoln's tenure in office.

Even though no legislation was required for the new design, approval of the [[United States Secretary of the Treasury|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.

===Wheat cent (1909–1958)===
A study of three potential reverses resulted in the approval of a very simple design bearing two [[wheat]]heads 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|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 because to make a change would have required halting production, the decision was made to eliminate the initials entirely. 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.

Thus in 1909 the U.S. had six different cents: the 1909 and 1909-S [[Indian Head cent]]s, 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 V.D.B.

===Lincoln Memorial cent (1959–2008)===
[[File:20050228 200242 1 revers lincoln.999x989.jpg|thumb|150px|left|Detail of reverse showing Lincoln statue inside the memorial]]
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. This series is noteworthy for having the image of [[Abraham Lincoln]] both on the obverse and reverse, as his likeness can be discerned at the center of the memorial on the reverse.

===Lincoln Bicentennial cents (2009)===
The [[Presidential $1 Coin Act of 2005]] required that the cent's reverse be redesigned in 2009. This resulted in the mintage of four different coins showing scenes from Abraham Lincoln's life in honor of the [[Abraham Lincoln Bicentennial|bicentennial]] of his birth.

These four designs, unveiled September 22, 2008, at a ceremony held at the [[Lincoln Memorial]] on the National Mall in [[Washington, D.C.]], are:
* Birth and early childhood in [[Kentucky]]: this design features a [[log cabin]] and Lincoln's birth year 1809. It was designed by Richard Masters and sculpted by Jim Licaretz. This cent was released into circulation on Lincoln's 200th birthday, February 12, 2009, at a special ceremony at [[LaRue County High School]] in [[Hodgenville, Kentucky]], Lincoln's birthplace.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Kocher |first=Greg |date=February 13, 2009 |title=Lincoln's birthplace is launch site for new penny |url=http://www.kentucky.com/news/state/story/692636.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090217191849/http://www.kentucky.com/news/state/story/692636.html |archive-date=February 17, 2009 |access-date=November 26, 2009 |work=Lexington Herald-Leader}}</ref> The mintage was extremely low compared to prior years (see [[Lincoln cent mintage figures]]). It has been nicknamed the "Log Cabin Penny".
* Formative years in [[Indiana]]: this design features a young Lincoln reading while taking a break from rail splitting. It was designed and sculpted by Charles Vickers. Nicknamed the "Indiana Penny", it was released on May 14, 2009.<ref name="WP-20090216">{{Cite news |last=O'Keefe |first=Ed |date=February 17, 2009 |title=Heads Abe, Tails New On Pennies Marking Lincoln Bicentennial |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/02/16/AR2009021601311.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110604121132/http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/02/16/AR2009021601311.html |archive-date=June 4, 2011 |access-date=August 22, 2017 |newspaper=The Washington Post |page=A11}}</ref>
* Professional life in [[Illinois]]: this design features a young professional Lincoln standing before the [[Old State Capitol State Historic Site|Illinois State Capitol]], in Springfield. It was designed by [[Joel Iskowitz]] and sculpted by [[Don Everhart]]. Nicknamed the "Illinois Penny", it was released on August 13, 2009.<ref name="WP-20090216" />
* Presidency in [[Washington, D.C.]]: this design features the half-completed [[United States Capitol dome|Capitol dome]]. It was designed by Susan Gamble and sculpted by Joseph Menna. This fourth cent was released to the public on November 12, 2009.<ref name="WP-20090216" /> U.S. Mint released collector's sets containing this design in copper prior to the public launch of this design in zinc.

Special 2009 cents struck for sale in sets to collectors had the metallic copper content of cents minted in 1909 (95% copper, 5% tin and zinc).<ref>{{Cite web |title=U.S. Mint Online Product Catalog |url=http://catalog.usmint.gov/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/ProductDisplay?catalogId=10001&storeId=10001&productId=14920&langId=-1 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110727070550/http://catalog.usmint.gov/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/ProductDisplay?catalogId=10001&storeId=10001&productId=14920&langId=-1 |archive-date=July 27, 2011 |access-date=July 20, 2011 |publisher=Catalog.usmint.gov}}</ref> Those struck for circulation retained the normal composition of a zinc core coated with copper.

===Union shield cent (2010–present)===
[[File:US union shield penny reverse.png|thumb|Reverse of a Union Shield penny]]
The 2005 act that authorized the redesign for the Bicentennial stated that another redesigned reverse for the Lincoln cent will be minted which "shall bear an image emblematic of President Lincoln's preservation of the United States of America as a single and united country".<ref name="redesignlaw">{{USStatute|109|145|119|2674|2005|12|22}} – Presidential $1 Coin Act of 2005, Title VI, §303. "The design on the reverse of the 1-cent coins issued after December 31, 2009, shall bear an image emblematic of President Lincoln's preservation of United States of America as a single and united country." Retrieved November 30, 2009.</ref> Eighteen designs were proposed for the reverse of the 2010 cent.<ref name="designs">{{Cite web |last=Staff |date=June 9, 2009 |title=2010 Lincoln Cent Design Proposals |url=http://2010lincolncents.com/2010-lincoln-cent-design-proposals/ |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091125204203/http://2010lincolncents.com/2010-lincoln-cent-design-proposals/ |archive-date=November 25, 2009 |access-date=November 30, 2009 |publisher=2010 Lincoln Cents |quote=There were initially 18 design proposals for the 2010 Lincoln Cent reverse.}}</ref> On April 16, 2009, the [[United States Commission of Fine Arts|Commission of Fine Arts]] (CFA) met and selected a design that showed 13 wheat sheaves bound together with a ring symbolizing American unity as one nation.<ref name="cfa">{{Cite journal |last=McAllister |first=Bill |date=May 4, 2009 |title=Wheat Design may appear on the 2010 cent |journal=Coin World |volume=50 |issue=2560 |page=1}}</ref> Later this design was withdrawn because it was similar to coinage issued in Germany in the 1920s.<ref name="ccac">{{Cite journal |last=McAllister |first=Bill |date=May 18, 2009 |title=Mint withdraws 2010 'Wheat' cent design |journal=Coin World |volume=50 |issue=2562 |page=1}}</ref> The [[Citizens Coinage Advisory Committee]] later met and chose a design showing a Union shield with {{Small|ONE CENT}} superimposed in a scroll; [[E pluribus unum|E Pluribus Unum]] was also depicted in the upper portion of the shield.<ref name="ccac" /> In June 2009 the CFA met again and chose a design featuring a modern rendition of the [[American flag]].<ref name="ccac/">{{Cite journal |last=McAllister |first=Bill |date=May 18, 2009 |title=Commission votes for U.S. flag on 2010 1¢ |journal=Coin World |volume=50 |issue=2565 |page=1}}</ref> As a part of the release ceremony for the last of the 2009 cents on November 12, the design for the 2010 cent was announced.<ref name="designchose">{{Cite journal |last=Gilkes |first=Paul |date=November 30, 2009 |title=Cent to bear Union Shield design in 2010 |journal=Coin World |volume=50 |issue=2590 |pages=1, 68}}</ref> The design chosen was the one that was chosen earlier by the CCAC.<ref name=designchose/> According to the Mint, the 13 stripes on the shield "represent the states joined in one compact union to support the Federal government, represented by the horizontal bar above".<ref name="mintpr">{{Cite press release |title=United States Mint Releases Fourth 2009 Lincoln Bicentennial One-Cent Coin |date=November 12, 2009 |publisher=United States Mint |url=http://usmint.gov/pressroom/index.cfm?action=press_release&ID=1080 |access-date=November 30, 2009 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100106054936/http://www.usmint.gov/pressroom/index.cfm?action=press_release&ID=1080 |archive-date=January 6, 2010}}</ref> The Mint also noted that a shield was commonly used in paintings in the Capitol hallways painted by [[Constantino Brumidi]], an artist in the Capitol active during the Lincoln Presidency.<ref name=mintpr/> 

The obverse of the cent was also changed to a modern rendition of Brenner's design.<ref name="designchose" /><ref name="headsmod">{{Cite journal |last=Gilkes |first=Paul |date=February 15, 2010 |title=Mint Returns to 1909 Galvano for Portrait |journal=Coin World |volume=51 |issue=2601 |pages=1, 24}}</ref> The new Union Shield design replaces the Lincoln memorial in use since 1959.<ref name="designchose" /> The coin was designed by artist [[Lyndall Bass]] and sculpted by U.S. Mint sculptor-engraver [[Joseph Menna]].<ref name="designer">{{Cite press release |title=United States Mint Launches 2010 Lincoln One-Cent Coin |date=February 11, 2010 |publisher=United States Mint |url=http://usmint.gov/pressroom/index.cfm?action=press_release&ID=1101 |quote=The reverse of the 2010 and beyond Lincoln cent was designed by United States Mint Artistic Infusion Program Associate Designer Lyndall Bass and executed by United States Mint Sculptor-Engraver Joseph Menna. |access-date=February 11, 2010 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100216092737/http://usmint.gov/pressroom/index.cfm?action=press_release&ID=1101 |archive-date=February 16, 2010}}</ref> In January 2010, the coins were released early in [[Puerto Rico]];<ref name="rico">{{Cite journal |last=Gilkes |first=Paul |date=February 8, 2010 |title=First Circulation Reports of 2010 Cents From Puerto Rico |journal=Coin World |volume=51 |issue=2600 |page=5}}</ref> this was caused by a shortage of 2009-dated pennies on the island.<ref name="headsmod" /> The new design was released at a ceremony at the [[Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library]] in [[Springfield, Illinois]] on February 11, 2010.<ref name="ceremony">{{Cite news |last=Ruston, Bruce |date=February 11, 2010 |title=Collectors seek to turn profit on pennies |url=http://www.sj-r.com/breaking/x228082611/New-Lincoln-penny-design-unveiled-in-Springfield |url-status=bot: unknown |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100214113853/http://www.sj-r.com/breaking/x228082611/New-Lincoln-penny-design-unveiled-in-Springfield |archive-date=February 14, 2010 |access-date=February 11, 2010 |work=State Journal-Register |quote=The newest—and for now permanent—version of the Lincoln penny was unveiled this morning at the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Museum...}}</ref> In 2017, cents minted in Philadelphia were struck with a "P" mintmark to celebrate the 225th anniversary of the U.S. Mint. 2017 is the only year that Philadelphia cents have had a mintmark.<ref>{{Cite web |last=McMorrow-Hernandez |first=Joshua |date=January 16, 2017 |title=Philadelphia Mint Quietly Releases 2017-P Lincoln Cent |url=https://coinweek.com/us-mint-news/philadelphia-mint-quietly-releases-2017-p-lincoln-cent/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190607134356/https://coinweek.com/us-mint-news/philadelphia-mint-quietly-releases-2017-p-lincoln-cent/ |archive-date=June 7, 2019 |access-date=June 4, 2018 |website=coinweek.com}}</ref> In 2019, the [[West Point Mint]] minted pennies marked with a "W" mintmark for the first time, which were only available with their annual sets, wrapped separately in their own plastic wrap.<ref>{{Cite web |title=United States Mint Proof Set {{!}} U.S. Mint |url=https://www.usmint.gov/news/press-releases/2019-united-states-mint-proof-set-now-available |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220331171800/https://www.usmint.gov/news/press-releases/2019-united-states-mint-proof-set-now-available |archive-date=March 31, 2022 |access-date=March 31, 2022 |website=www.usmint.gov}}</ref> An uncirculated cent was included with the uncirculated mint set, a proof cent with the proof set, and a reverse proof with the silver proof set.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Gilkes |first1=Paul |title=2019-W Lincoln cents available only as premiums |url=https://www.coinworld.com/news/us-coins/2019-w-lincoln-cents-only-available-as-premiums.html |website=coinworld.com |publisher=Amos Media Company |access-date=8 December 2024}}</ref>