The Lincoln Cent Part I The Beginning
Below is a MRR and PLR article in category Home Family -> subcategory Hobbies.
The Lincoln Cent: Part I - The Beginning
Overview
Discover the rich history of the Lincoln Cent and learn about its origins and upcoming changes.
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A Century of Pennies
Since its debut in 1909, over 400 billion Lincoln Cents have been minted?"equivalent to about 1,400 pennies per US citizen. More cents are produced than any other denomination, enduring two world wars, technological leaps like the moon landing, and monumental societal changes. This humble coin, nearly a century old, has seen transformations in both design and metal content.
The Birth of a Design
The story of the Lincoln Cent began in 1908 when Victor D. Brenner created a medal of Theodore Roosevelt for the Panama Canal's construction. Previously, he had crafted a plaque of Lincoln using an 1864 photograph. Roosevelt, impressed by Brenner's work, was in favor of featuring Lincoln on US coinage. Until then, no American president had appeared on coins for general circulation.
Roosevelt, having already sought to redesign American coinage with Augustus Saint-Gaudens in 1907, was open to Brenner's suggestion. Saint-Gaudens' untimely death left room for new ideas, and Lincoln on a coin aligned with Roosevelt’s desire to honor his fellow Republican during the 100th anniversary of Lincoln’s birth. Brenner proposed placing Lincoln on the penny, the most common coin, as a tribute to the people's president.
Design Controversies
Initially, Brenner's reverse design mirrored a French two-franc piece, with "United States of America" at the top and his full name, BRENNER, at the bottom. Mint officials rejected this, preferring a more original design. They also advised using only his initials, a common practice on coins.
Brenner revised the design to feature two stalks of wheat, "ONE CENT" over "United States of America," his initials VDB at the bottom, and the national motto "E PLURIBUS UNUM" circling the top. At first, the design lacked "In God We Trust," despite Congress authorizing its use on coins in 1865. William Taft, who succeeded Roosevelt, insisted on its inclusion before approving the design.
Approval and Release
While no legislation was needed for a new design, the Treasury Secretary's approval was essential. Franklin MacVeagh approved it on July 14, 1909, announcing a new one-cent coin to commemorate Lincoln's 100th birth anniversary. On August 2, 1909, the new cent was released, sparking controversy that will be explored in Part II.
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