"The Most Famous Penny/Cent in the World"

The Historic Lincoln Cent

-foundation of the Numismatic Coin Collecting Hobby-

“With over .75 Trillion Lincoln Cents minted with the Victor David designed obverse (heads)!”

President Teddy Roosevelt, in 1909, replaced the Indian Head Cent with the Lincoln Head Cent.

In 2009 the Lincoln Cent passed a milestone when it turned 100 years old. The Cent's obverse side (heads) also has the distinction of being the longest continuously minted design in US Mint history.

However, the Mint followed through with their plans to retire the Victor-David-designed Cent in favor of three different designs. There is also ongoing debate calling for the Mint to end minting the cent-coin altogether.

The Lincoln Cent...

In addition to being recognized as the foundation of the Numismatic Hobby of Coin Collecting, the lowly common cent, which we regularly walk over on the streets and sidewalks, has spawned several words & colloquialisms in American Folklore. Such as: Penny Arcade, Penny Candy, Penny Ante, “A penny for your thoughts”, “A penny saved is a penny earned”, “Pennywise and pound foolish”, etc.

In 2010, the US Mint began the minting of the three new reverse
designs for the cent; thereby retiring the 1959 introduced Lincoln Memorial reverse which replaced the Wheat design reverse. However, the movement to stop minting cents altogether continues on...

What is the Lincoln Mystery Cent's Error?

The Lincoln Mystery Cent is a 1936 Philadelphia minted coin and is classified as a mint error (or oddity) because it was mis-struck, with part of the coin's back on the front of the coin. Specifically, on the obverse (heads side) you can see the wheat stalks from the reverse (tails side) under the 1936 date and under the word Liberty. Plus, under the words "In God We Trust" you can read the words "E Pluribus Unum" also from the reverse side.

Lincoln Mystery Cent Makes Numismatic History

Ordinarily, error coins do not make it out of the Mint. But, the Mystery Cent slipped through the screening process and was in public circulation for over 24 years. Then one day in 1961 a small town barber from Bethel, Ohio noticed something strange about the coin and 'socked' it away in his dresser sock drawer for eleven years. In 1972, a chance meeting with a guy from California ended with that Penny making numismatic history.

"I predict it (owning a Limited Edition Press Kit) will be fun for collectors 100 years from now."
-Margo Russell January 3, 2009

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March, 2008: Lincoln Mystery Cent is Featured in a four page article and the cover of COINage Magazine

US Director of the US Mint Mary Brooks
inside the gold vault at Fort Knox.