The Lincoln Cent Part 2 Controversy
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The Lincoln Cent: Part 2 - Controversy
Summary
This four-part series delves into the history of the Lincoln Cent and explores upcoming changes.Introduction
The release of the new Lincoln Cent on August 2, 1909, marked a significant moment in U.S. history as it was the first coin to feature an actual person. This move stirred considerable controversy, as some critics felt it resembled European monarchies, while others believed Lincoln deserved to be on a higher denomination than a penny. Additionally, some Mint employees were unhappy that an outsider had designed the coin.Public Demand and Production Halt
Despite the controversies, public demand soared. On the release day, people queued up to get their hands on the new penny, leading to rationing in many places. The entire stock of these coins was depleted in just seven days, with 27,996,194 of the 1909 VDB pennies and the rare 1909 S VDB pennies, of which only 404,000 were minted.However, production abruptly halted just two days after the release on August 4, 1909, by order of Treasury Secretary Franklin MacVeigh. Although MacVeigh had originally approved the design, he claimed ignorance of the initials “VDB” appearing on the coin and acted in response to public criticism regarding their size.
Design Controversies
Many objected to the prominence of Victor David Brenner’s initials, positioned just above the rim on the reverse side. Brenner was furious and considered legal action, as initialing or naming designers on coins was a common practice. Still, no lawsuit materialized. A suggestion to replace “VDB” with just “B” was fiercely opposed by Charles Barber, who feared confusion with his own work. Consequently, MacVeigh chose to remove the initials entirely, stating it was faster and more cost-effective. Brenner's initials were absent until 1918 when they reappeared, albeit inconspicuously, on Lincoln’s shoulder. Some speculate that anti-Semitism influenced the backlash against Brenner’s initials.Conclusion
The following years ushered in further changes, which will be discussed in Part III.Additional Penny Facts
- The U.S. one-cent coin measures 19 millimeters in diameter and weighs 2.5 grams.- Its composition is 97.5% zinc and 2.5% copper.
- There have been 11 different penny designs.
- In 2004, the U.S. Mint produced over 6.8 billion pennies.
- The most annual production was in 1982, with over 16 billion pennies.
- Since inception, over 400 billion pennies have been minted.
- A penny lasts about 25 years on average.
- President Abraham Lincoln's image on the penny marks the first appearance of a historic figure on a U.S. coin, celebrating the 100th anniversary of his birth.
- The Lincoln penny was the first cent to feature "In God We Trust."
- More than two-thirds of all U.S. coins are pennies.
- Lincoln is the only figure on U.S. coins to face right, differing from other denominations which traditionally face left. (This changed with the 2005 nickel, introducing the first forward-facing design.)
Stay tuned for more insights as we continue exploring the history and evolution of the Lincoln Cent.
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