Lincoln Memorial Cent
Struck for fifty years, the Lincoln Memorial Cent was produced by the US Mint from 1959-2008. The coins debuted to celebrate the 150th anniversary of the birth of the 16th President of the United States, Abraham Lincoln, who is honored on the coin.
 |
| Mintage: 427.5 Billion U.S. Mint Online Site |
The Lincoln portrait for the obverse of the cent was designed by Victor David Brenner. It was originally used on the Lincoln Wheat Ears Cent which was produced prior to the Memorial Cent from 1909-1958. The reverse shows an image of the Lincoln Memorial found in Washington, D.C.
In their fifty-year run, over 427.5 billion of the Lincoln Memorial Cents were struck by the US Mint
History of Lincoln Cent Designs
The Lincoln Cent premiered in 1909 to honor the centennial of Abraham Lincoln’s birth. Since then, there have been several new designs used:
- 1909-1958 Lincoln Wheat Ears Cent
- 1959-2008 Lincoln Memorial Cent
- 2009 – Lincoln Birthplace Cent
- 2009 – Lincoln Formative Years Cent
- 2009 – Lincoln Professional Life Cent
- 2009 – Lincoln Presidency Cent
- 2010-? – Lincoln Union Shield Cent
Aside from reverse design changes, the Lincoln Cent has also featured several alloy modifications over the course of its history.
Issue Information
The Lincoln Memorial Cent was first struck in 1959 from 95% copper. In 1982, the Mint changed the alloy used for the cent coins to 97.5% zinc with the remainder copper.
Release Date
The US Mint issued the Lincoln Memorial Cent from 1959-2008.
Issue Price
As a circulating coin, the Lincoln Memorial Cent was distributed through normal commerce channels for its face value of $.01.
U.S. Mint Production Facility
During its fifty-year run, the Lincoln Memorial Cent was struck at three different US Mint facilities including Philadelphia, Denver and San Francisco.
Designer & Sculptor / Engraver
The obverse (heads side) of the Lincoln Memorial Cent shows a portrait of Abraham Lincoln as completed by Victor David Brenner. It was first used on the Lincoln Wheat Ears Cent from 1909-1959.
The reverse (tails side) features an image of the Lincoln Memorial which is found in Washington, D.C. The design was the work of Frank Gasparro.
Coin Specifications
| Face Value: | $0.01 |
| Finish: | Circulation (Business Strike) |
| Composition: |
|
| Standard Weight: |
|
| Standard Diameter: | 0.750 in. or 19 mm |
| Edge: | Plain |
Memorial Cent Mintage
|
1959
|
609,715,000
|
1975
|
5,451,476,142
|
1992
|
4,648,905,000
|
|
1959-D
|
1,279,760,000
|
1975-D
|
4,505,275,300
|
1992-D
|
4,448,673,300
|
|
1960
|
586,405,000
|
1976
|
4,674,292,426
|
1993
|
5,684,705,000
|
|
1960-D
|
1,580,884,000
|
1976-D
|
4,221,592,455
|
1993-D
|
6,426,650,571
|
|
1961
|
753,345,000
|
1977
|
4,469,930,000
|
1994
|
6,500,850,000
|
|
1961-D
|
1,753,266,700
|
1977-D
|
4,194,062,300
|
1994-D
|
7,131,765,000
|
|
1962
|
606,045,000
|
1978
|
5,558,605,000
|
1995
|
6,411,400,000
|
|
1962-D
|
1,793,148,140
|
1978-D
|
4,280,233,400
|
1995-D
|
7,128,560,000
|
|
1963
|
754,110,000
|
1979
|
6,018,515,000
|
1996
|
6,612,465,000
|
|
1963-D
|
1,774,020,400
|
1979-D
|
4,139,357,254
|
1996-D
|
6,510,795,000
|
|
1964
|
2,648,575,000
|
1980
|
7,414,705,000
|
1997
|
4,622,800,000
|
|
1964-D
|
3,799,071,500
|
1980-D
|
5,140,098,660
|
1997-D
|
4,576,555,000
|
|
1965
|
1,497,224,900
|
1981
|
7,491,750,000
|
1998
|
5,032,155,000
|
|
1966
|
2,188,147,783
|
1981-D
|
5,373,235,677
|
1998-D
|
5,225,353,500
|
|
1967
|
3,048,667,100
|
1982
|
10,712,525,000
|
1999
|
5,237,600,000
|
|
1968
|
1,707,880,970
|
1982-D
|
6,012,979,368
|
1999-D
|
6,360,065,000
|
|
1968-D
|
2,886,269,600
|
1983
|
7,752,355,000
|
2000
|
5,503,200,000
|
|
1968-S
|
258,270,001
|
1983-D
|
6,467,199,428
|
2000-D
|
8,774,220,000
|
|
1969
|
1,136,910,000
|
1984
|
8,151,079,000
|
2001
|
4,959,600,000
|
|
1969-D
|
4,002,832,200
|
1984-D
|
5,569,238,906
|
2001-D
|
5,374,990,000
|
|
1969-S
|
547,309,631
|
1985
|
5,648,489,887
|
2002
|
3,260,800,000
|
|
1970
|
1,898,315,000
|
1985-D
|
5,287,399,926
|
2002-D
|
4,028,055,000
|
|
1970-D
|
2,891,438,900
|
1986
|
4,491,395,493
|
2003
|
3,300,000,000
|
|
1970-S
|
693,192,814
|
1986-D
|
4,442,866,698
|
2003-D
|
3,548,000,000
|
|
1971
|
1,919,490,000
|
1987
|
4,682,466,931
|
2004
|
3,379,600,000
|
|
1971-D
|
2,911,045,600
|
1987-D
|
4,879,389,514
|
2004-D
|
3,456,400,000
|
|
1971-S
|
525,133,459
|
1988
|
6,092,810,000
|
2005
|
3,935,600,000
|
|
1972
|
2,933,255,000
|
1988-D
|
5,253,740,443
|
2005-D
|
3,764,450,000
|
|
1972-D
|
2,665,071,400
|
1989
|
7,261,535,000
|
2006
|
4,290,000,000
|
|
1972-S
|
376,939,108
|
1989-D
|
5,345,467,111
|
2006-D
|
3,944,000,000
|
|
1973
|
3,728,245,000
|
1990
|
6,851,765,000
|
2007
|
3,763,400,000
|
|
1973-D
|
3,549,576,588
|
1990-D
|
4,922,894,533
|
2007-D
|
3,638,800,000
|
|
1973-S
|
317,177,295
|
1991
|
5,165,940,000
|
2008
|
2,596,000,000
|
|
1974
|
4,232,140,523
|
1991-D
|
4,158,442,076
|
2008-D
|
2,849,600,000
|
|
1974-D
|
4,235,098,000
|
||||
|
1974-S
|
409,426,660
|
Related Products
- Lincoln Wheat Ear Cent
- Lincoln Birthplace Cent
- Lincoln Formative Years Cent
- Lincoln Professional Life Cent
- Lincoln Presidency Cent
- Lincoln Union Shield Cent
- Lincoln Coin & Chronicles Set