Editing Penny (United States coin) (section)

===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)
| image2 = 2005 Penny Rev Unc D.png
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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.