The Lincoln Cent

Take some time to review every part of the Lincoln cent. You may also check out the complete grading guidelines , or you could experiment with the "QuickGrade" picture-guided grading engine for Lincoln cents.

1955 Doubled Die closeup

Abraham Lincoln, born in 1809, became arguably the greatest president in the history of the United States. In celebration of what would have been his one-hundredth birthday, the Lincoln cent was released to the public in 1909. When the change was made, the fresh design replaced the former Indian Head cent, a proletarian coin popular with the public and one that helped move the day-to-day economy through Reconstruction and the Technological Revolution. In 1959, the Lincoln cent's reverse was modified to one showcasing the Lincoln Memorial. Only Wheat cents are the focus of discussion on this website.

All Wheat cents, save for the 1943 wartime issues, are struck in an alloy comprising ninety-five percent copper, with the balance consisting of tin and zinc; they are bronze coins. The need for copper during the war resulted in the decision to produce all 1943 cents in ninety-nine percent steel and a shallow layer of zinc. The bronze cents weigh 3.11 grams, and the magnetic steel cents weigh 2.7 grams. Both alloys are 19.05mm in diameter, precisely three-quarters of an inch.

The king of Lincoln cents is undoubtedly the 1909-S VDB. This is one of the most famous coins in United States history and one of the few numismatic pieces sought by those who do not otherwise collect coins. The mintage of this first-year San Francisco issue is comparatively small, yet many were saved due to the fanfare associated with Lincoln's "commemorative" cent and the novelty of keeping the first new cent design in over a generation. Despite the number of surviving examples, the coin remains rare and expensive because demand has consistently outstripped supply. The 1909-S, 1914-D, and 1931-S are considered the primary semi-keys to the series. In uncirculated grades, several early mintmarked dates become prohibitively rare, especially with red surfaces. The most popular varieties include the 1922 "plain," where 1922-D cents were struck without a mintmark, and the 1955 "doubled die," on which the date and several other details show doubling. The span of multiple striking on the 1955 doubled die is remarkable.

Most dates in this series are affordable and often sold in bulk quantities and "starter sets." In average circulated grades, even the semi-keys remain attainable for most buyers. The 1909-S VDB can be elusive for casual collectors. Strike is not generally an issue with this series. Though weakly struck examples are sometimes encountered, no particular date is consistently poor, warranting special attention. Authenticity is only a factor for the 1909-S VDB and the 1914-D. Professional authentication or purchasing from reputable dealers is advisable for these two dates.

primary Lincoln cent example image

Image Courtesy of Professional Coin Grading Service (PCGS.com).


Click on any grey box below to highlight aspects of the primary image


Primary Obverse Devices:
The obverse depicts a right-facing bust of Abraham Lincoln. This depiction is similar to a number of known photographs taken of the sixteenth president.
Date, Mintmark, and Designer Initials:
The date appears on the obverse at the four o'clock position. Lincoln wheat cents were minted between 1909 and 1958, and at least one US mint produced coins every year during this span. The mintmark is situated beneath the date. Coins were struck at the Philadelphia, Denver, and San Francisco mints. The letter "D" represents those coins minted at the Denver location, while the letter "S" was chosen for those from San Francisco. Coins minted in Philadelphia did not include a mintmark. On some coins dated 1909, the initials V.D.B., those of designer Victor David Brenner, were stamped at the bottom of the reverse. These initials were soon removed during that year and eventually returned to the obverse at the base of the bust in 1918.
Primary Reverse Devices:
The reverse includes two durum wheat stalks at the left and right sides of the coin. Durum wheat is a less popular, yet significant, staple of the American diet; however, when taken as a percentage of total wheat production, this wheat was more popular during the early twentieth century.
Mottoes:
The Lincoln cent includes three mottoes. "Liberty" is written on the obverse to the left of Lincoln's bust. Liberty implies the spirit of freedom, especially freedom from political oppression, and has been an American theme since the country's founding. "E. Pluribus Unum," hovering over the entirety of the reverse design, literally translates to "out of many, one." This motto represents the coming together of the original thirteen colonies into a single country during the nation's founding. The obverse also includes the motto "In God We Trust." This motto became popular in the United States during the Civil War. There is some debate over whether the phrase has a purely religious meaning or if cultural and political implications are assumed as well.
Other Secondary Devices:
The design of the Lincoln Wheat cent does not include any secondary devices.
Country and Denomination:
The Lincoln cent's country of origin and denomination are prominently displayed at the center of the coin's reverse. "One cent" is written in a larger font.