Introduction to the Lincoln Cent
PAGE-1:
The Lincoln Cent has the longest production and largest quantity of any modern Coin Type in History.
PAGE-2:Lincoln Cents - Before the Beginning
Stubbornly Initiated by President Theodore Roosevelt.
Roosevelt had an eye for art.
His acquaintance with renowned sculptor Augustus Saint-Gaudens reinforced this belief.
Roosevelt had directed Saint-Gaudens to begin redesigning all of America's coins.
Unfortunately, Saint-Gaudens died before he could finish his work (BornMarch 1, 1848 – Died: August 3, 1907).
We could have had a Saint-Gaudens cent.
When the Lincoln one-cent made its initial appearance in 1909, it marked a radical departure from the accepted styling of United States coins.
But the public sentiment stemming from the 100th anniversary celebration of Abraham Lincoln's birth proved stronger than the long-standing prejudice.
PAGE-3:
The only person invited to participate in the formulation of the new cent design was Victor David Brenner (Born: June 12, 1871 – Died: April 5, 1924.
President Roosevelt was impressed with the talents of this outstanding sculptor Victor David Brenner.
Brenner was singled out by the President for the commission.
The likeness of President Lincoln on the obverse of the coin is an adaptation of a plaque Brenner executed several years earlier which had come to the attention of President Roosevelt.
Page-4:
The Obverse: In addition to the prescribed elements on our coins -- LIBERTY and the date -- the motto In God We Trust (First used on the 1864 2-cent coin), first time on a one coin denomination.
Congress passed the Act of March 3, 1865, authorizing the use of this motto on our coins during Lincoln's tenure in office.
Page-5:
Reverse: A study of three models for the coin's reverse 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 One Cent denomination and UNITED STATES OF AMERICA.
Curving around the upper border is the national motto, E Pluribus Unum (First used on the 1795 Reverse of the Half Eagle), which means "One out of Many."
No legislation was required for the new design, approval of the Secretary of the Treasury was necessary.
Franklin MacVeagh gave approval on July 14, 1909, and three weeks later, August 2, 1909, the new cent was released to the public.
Page-6, 7 & 8:The First Lincoln Cent and 1909 Varieties are issued
•By August 12, 1909, new set of working coin dies had been prepared without the V.D.B. on them. The new issue of cents soon followed, creating the first major die variety of the Lincoln Cent series.
•It is worth noting that there were actually six distinct types of U.S. Cents issued in 1909 not including Matt Proofs. (Indian Cent: 1909, 1909-S, Lincoln cent: 1909, 1909vdb , 1909-S, 1909-Svdb)The Denver Mint did not start production until 1911.
•The original model bore Brenner's name. Before the coins were issued, however, the initials "VDB" were substituted because officials at the U. S. 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 due to the fact that to make a change would have required halting production, the decision was made to eliminate the initials entirely. They were restored in 1918, and are to be found in minute form on the rim, just under the shoulder of Lincoln on the Obverse.
•There are more one-cent coins produced than any other denomination, which makes the Lincoln cent a familiar item. In its life span, this coin has weathered two world conflicts, one of which changed it materially, because metals play a vital part in any war effort.
Page-9:
At the time of World War II, the one-cent coin was composed of 95 percent copper and 5 percent zinc. These metals were denied to the Mint in 1943, making it necessary for the Mint to seek a substitute material. After much deliberation, even including consideration of plastics, but zinc-coated steel was chosen as the best in a limited range of suitable materials.
Production of the war-time cent was provided for in an Act of Congress approved on December 18, 1942, which also set as the expiration date of the authority December 31, 1946. Low-grade carbon steel formed the base of these coins, to which a zinc coating .005 inch thick was deposited on each side electrolytically as a rust preventative. The same size was maintained, but the weight was reduced from the standard 48 grains to 42 grains, due to the use of a lighter alloy. Production commenced on February 27, 1943, and by December 31, 1943, the three Mint facilities had produced 1,093,838,670 of the one-cent coins. The copper released for the war effort was enough to meet the combined needs of 2 cruisers, 2 destroyers, 1,243 flying fortresses, 120 field guns and 120 howitzers, enough for 1.25 million shells for our big field guns.
On January 1, 1944, the Mint was able to adopt a modified alloy, the supply being derived from expended shell casing which when melted furnished a composition similar to the original composition, but with a faint trace of tin. The original weight of 48 grains was also restored.
PAGE-10:
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.
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.
The composition of the coin was changed again in 1962. Mint officials felt that deletion of the tin content would have no adverse effect on the wearing qualities of the coin, whereas, the manufacturing advantages to be gained with the alloy stabilized at 95 % copper and 5 % zinc would be of much benefit. Congressional authority for this modification is contained in an Act of Congress approved on September 5, 1962.
Page-11:
In 1982, the coin's composition changed again to copper-plated zinc. These coins, which are still being produced today, contain 97.6 % zinc and 2.4 % copper. This coin is identical in size and appearance to the predominantly copper cent issued before 1982.
Page-12:
2009 Lincolns 200th anniversary birth date Coin Reverse change. The 2009 Lincoln Cent saw its design changed once again. The 2009 Bicentennial Lincoln Cents feature four different reverse designs, each representing a different stage of Lincoln's life. The obverse still shows the same likeness of Abraham Lincoln designed by Victor D. Brenner. (Reverse designs are: 1.) Birthplace in Kentucky, 2.) Formative Years in Indiana, 3.) Professional life in Illinois, 4.) Presidency in Washington D. C.
Page-13:
2010 Union Shield Cent Reverse; the 2010 Lincoln Cent was released with a seventh and final new reverse design (1.) Wheat Ears, 2.) Lincoln Memorial, 3) Four 2009 200th birth anniversary, 4.) 2010 Shield design). The shield design is expected to become the new permanent design for the one cent coin for the foreseeable future. The design for the 2010 Lincoln Cent is intended to bear a design emblematic of President Lincoln's preservation of the United States of America as a united country.
Page-14 & 15:
Specifications
Page-16:Most famous Mint errors.
1922 No D cent: with Die Pair # 2 was caused by a die clash which shattered Reverse die and replaced with a new die, The obverse die was not so badly damaged, was abraded or ground to remove clash marks and put back in service.This error has four varieties. Variety 1, 3 and 4 all had some material clogging/ filling the D on obverse, such as Grease.
1943/ 1944 Cent: 1943 Copper cent & 1944 Steel Cent.
1955-P Obverse Double Die: (Wexler Class # 1) Discovered on East Coast in Cigarette machines.
1972-P Obverse Double Die cent: (Wexler Class # 2)
Wexler Description:
Note: Class 1:doubled die variety has the doubling rotated about a central point, Class II doubled dies are produced in a manner that is totally different from the way that Class I doubled dies are produced. Where the Class I doubled die variety has the doubling rotated about a central point, the Class II doubled die will display doubling that is spread either towards the center of the die or towards the rim.