Cent (United States)
Value:	0.01 U.S. dollar
Mass:	2.5 g  (0.080 troy oz)
Diameter:	19.05 mm  (0.750 in)
Thickness:	1.55 mm  (0.061 in)
Edge:	Plain
Composition:	Copper-plated Zinc 97.5% Zn, 2.5% Cu
Years of Minting:	1982–
Catalog Number:	-
Obverse
Design:	Abraham Lincoln
Designer:	Victor D. Brenner
Design Date:	1909
Reverse
Design:	Lincoln Memorial
Designer:	Frank Gasparro
Design Date:	1959

The United States one-cent coin is a unit of currency equaling one-hundredth of a United States dollar. Its obverse has featured the profile of President Abraham Lincoln since 1909, the centennial of his birth. Since 1959 (the sesquicentennial of Lincoln's birth), the reverse has featured the Lincoln Memorial. The coin is .75 inches in diameter and .061 inches in thickness. “USD” redirects here. ... BIC pen cap, about 1 gram. ... Troy weight is a system of units of mass customarily used for precious metals, black powder, and gemstones. ... A millimetre (American spelling: millimeter), symbol mm is an SI unit of length that is equal to one thousandth of a metre. ... An inch (plural: inches; symbol or abbreviation: in or, sometimes, ″ - a double prime) is the name of a unit of length in a number of different systems, including English units, Imperial units, and United States customary units. ... For other uses, see Copper (disambiguation). ... General Name, symbol, number zinc, Zn, 30 Chemical series transition metals Group, period, block 12, 4, d Appearance bluish pale gray Standard atomic weight 65. ... General Name, symbol, number zinc, Zn, 30 Chemical series transition metals Group, period, block 12, 4, d Appearance bluish pale gray Standard atomic weight 65. ... For other uses, see Copper (disambiguation). ... Image File history File links Download high-resolution version (727x744, 1067 KB) Source United States Mint Date 2006-04-06 Author United States Mint Permission File links The following pages on the English Wikipedia link to this file (pages on other projects are not listed): Cent (United States coin) Cent... For other uses, see Abraham Lincoln (disambiguation). ... Victor David Brenner (1871 – 1924) was an American artist and sculptor (born in Lithuania) whose relief image of Abraham Lincoln on the occasion of the centennial of the sixteenth presidents birth so impressed President Theodore Roosevelt that Brenner was invited to design a new penny. ... Year 1909 (MCMIX) was a common year starting on Friday (link will display full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar (or a common year starting on Thursday of the 13-day-slower Julian calendar). ... Image File history File links Download high-resolution version (746x742, 988 KB) Source United States Mint Date 2006-04-06 Author United States Mint Permission File links The following pages on the English Wikipedia link to this file (pages on other projects are not listed): Cent (United States coin) Portal... The monument, which is on the National Mall in Washington, D.C., is a United States Presidential Memorial built to honor 16th President Abraham Lincoln. ... Frank Gasparro (August 26, 1909 – September 29, 2001) was the 10th Chief Engraver of the U.S. Mint and held this position from February 23, 1965 to January 16, 1981. ... Year 1959 (MCMLIX) was a common year starting on Thursday (link will display full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ... “USD” redirects here. ... The term obverse, and its opposite, reverse, describe the two sides of units of currency and many other kinds of two-sided objects, most often in reference to coins, but also to medals, drawings, old master prints and other works of art. ... For the pop band, see Presidents of the United States of America. ... For other uses, see Abraham Lincoln (disambiguation). ... Year 1909 (MCMIX) was a common year starting on Friday (link will display full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar (or a common year starting on Thursday of the 13-day-slower Julian calendar). ... A centennial is a 100-year anniversary of an event, or the celebrations pertaining thereto. ... Year 1959 (MCMLIX) was a common year starting on Thursday (link will display full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ... An anniversary (from the Latin anniversarius, from the words for year and to turn, meaning (re)turning yearly; known in English since c. ... The term obverse, and its opposite, reverse, describe the two sides of units of currency and many other kinds of two-sided objects, most often in reference to coins, but also to medals, drawings, old master prints and other works of art. ... The monument, which is on the National Mall in Washington, D.C., is a United States Presidential Memorial built to honor 16th President Abraham Lincoln. ...

The one-cent coin is often called a "penny", but the U.S. Mint's official name for this coin is "cent". For the NBA basketball player with the nickname see Penny Hardaway A variety of low value coins, including an Irish 2p piece and many U.S. pennies. ... Seal of the U.S. Mint The United States Mint primarily produces circulating coinage for the United States to conduct its trade and commerce. ...

History of composition

Further information: Lincoln cent

Further information: 1943 steel cent

In 1943, at the peak of World War II, cents of zinc-coated steel were made for a short time due to war demands for copper. A few copper cents from 1943 were produced from the 1942 planchets remaining in the bins. Similarly, some 1944 steel cents have been confirmed. From 1944 through 1946, salvaged ammunition shells made their way into the minting process, and it was not uncommon to see coins featuring streaks of brass or having a considerably darker finish than other issues. Obverse of a Lincoln cent The Lincoln cent is the current one cent coin used in the United States. ... 1793 was a common year starting on Tuesday (see link for calendar). ... 1857 was a common year starting on Thursday (see link for calendar). ... 1857 was a common year starting on Thursday (see link for calendar). ... 1864 (MDCCCLXIV) was a leap year starting on Friday (see link for calendar) of the Gregorian calendar or a leap year starting on Sunday of the 12-day-slower Julian calendar. ... For other uses, see Nickel (disambiguation). ... 1864 (MDCCCLXIV) was a leap year starting on Friday (see link for calendar) of the Gregorian calendar or a leap year starting on Sunday of the 12-day-slower Julian calendar. ... Year 1942 (MCMXLII) was a common year starting on Thursday (the link will display the full 1942 calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ... The 1943 steel cent was a special version of the U.S. Lincoln cent. ... 1944 (MCMXLIV) was a leap year starting on Saturday. ... Year 1946 (MCMXLVI) was a common year starting on Tuesday (link will display full 1946 calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ... For other uses, see Brass (disambiguation). ... Year 1946 (MCMXLVI) was a common year starting on Tuesday (link will display full 1946 calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1962 (MCMLXII) was a common year starting on Monday (the link is to a full 1962 calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ... Assorted ancient Bronze castings found as part of a cache, probably intended for recycling. ... General Name, Symbol, Number tin, Sn, 50 Chemical series poor metals Group, Period, Block 14, 5, p Appearance silvery lustrous gray Standard atomic weight 118. ... Year 1962 (MCMLXII) was a common year starting on Monday (the link is to a full 1962 calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1982 (MCMLXXXII) was a common year starting on Friday (link displays the 1982 Gregorian calendar). ... For other uses, see Brass (disambiguation). ... Year 1982 (MCMLXXXII) was a common year starting on Friday (link displays the 1982 Gregorian calendar). ... General Name, symbol, number zinc, Zn, 30 Chemical series transition metals Group, period, block 12, 4, d Appearance bluish pale gray Standard atomic weight 65. ... For other uses, see Copper (disambiguation). ... The 1943 steel cent was a special version of the U.S. Lincoln cent. ... Year 1943 (MCMXLIII) was a common year starting on Friday (the link will display full 1943 calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ... Combatants Allied powers: China France Great Britain Soviet Union United States and others Axis powers: Germany Italy Japan and others Commanders Chiang Kai-shek Charles de Gaulle Winston Churchill Joseph Stalin Franklin Roosevelt Adolf Hitler Benito Mussolini Hideki Tōjō Casualties Military dead: 17,000,000 Civilian dead: 33,000... The 1943 steel cent was a special version of the U.S. Lincoln cent. ... Boxes of ammunition clog a warehouse in Baghdad Ammunition is a generic military term meaning (the assembly of) a projectile and its propellant. ... For other uses, see Brass (disambiguation). ...

1974 aluminum cent from the Smithsonian.

During the early 1970s, the price of copper rose to a point where the cent almost contained more than one cent's worth of copper. This led the Mint to test alternate metals, including aluminum and bronze-clad steel. Aluminum was chosen, and over 1.5 million of these cents were struck and ready for public release before ultimately being rejected. About a dozen aluminum cents are believed to still be in the hands of collectors,^[1] although they are now considered illegal, and are subject to seizure by the Secret Service. One aluminum cent was donated to the Smithsonian Institution. Download high resolution version (950x475, 93 KB)An extremely rare 1974 aluminum cent that was donated to the Smithsonian Institution. ... Download high resolution version (950x475, 93 KB)An extremely rare 1974 aluminum cent that was donated to the Smithsonian Institution. ... Year 1970 (MCMLXX) was a common year starting on Thursday (link shows full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ... For other uses, see Copper (disambiguation). ... “Aluminum” redirects here. ... Assorted ancient Bronze castings found as part of a cache, probably intended for recycling. ... For other uses, see Steel (disambiguation). ... The 1974 aluminum cent was a proposed cent produced by the United States Mint in 1973. ... It has been suggested that this article or section be merged with Counter Assault Team. ... The Smithsonian Institution Building or Castle on the National Mall serves as the Institutions headquarters. ...

The cent's composition was changed in 1982 because the value of the copper in the coin started to rise above one cent. Some 1982 cents use the 97.5% zinc composition, while others used the 95% copper composition. The price of copper later returned to profitable levels. Year 1982 (MCMLXXXII) was a common year starting on Friday (link displays the 1982 Gregorian calendar). ...

As of August 9, 2007, the price of copper is $3.50 per pound and zinc is $1.57 per pound. At these prices, the pre-1982 copper cent contains 2.34 cents worth of copper, which makes them an attractive target for melting by people wanting to sell the metal at a profit. However, the United States Mint, in anticipation of this practice, implemented new regulations^[2] on December 14, 2006 which criminalize the melting of cents and nickels and place limits on export of the coins. Violators can be punished with a fine of up to 10 000 USD and/or imprisoned for a maximum of five years. is the 221st day of the year (222nd in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2007 (MMVII) is the current year, a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar and the AD/CE era. ... “USD” redirects here. ...

The currently produced copper-plated zinc cent contains 0.89 cents worth of metal. However, the mint spends about 0.6 cents^[3] to produce each cent in addition to the cost of the metal content. Presumably with the rapid rise in price for zinc, the US Mint will have to find another alternative. However, it is Congress that determines the denomination and content of coins that the Mint must produce and put into circulation. As the United States Mint produces only the coins that Congress mandates, it does not have the authority to alter or abolish a unit of currency. If directed to do so by legislation enacted by the Congress and signed by the President, the Treasury Department would again study changing or phasing out the cent. Because the demand exists and the Federal Reserve Banks require inventories to meet the demand, the United States Mint is presently committed to producing the cent at a loss.

Many people can hear the difference between the bronze and copper cents and the newer, zinc cents: simply flip the coin, giving it a good, solid strike. The predominantly copper pennies produce a ringing sound in the 12 kHz range. The zinc coins do not ring. A kilohertz (kHz) is a unit of frequency equal to 1,000 hertz (1,000 cycles per second). ...

Designs

The coin has gone through several designs over its two-hundred year history. Until 1857 it was about the size of the current half-dollar coin. The Half Dollar of the United States has been produced nearly every year since the inception of the United States Mint in 1793. ...

Proof-quality Lincoln cent with cameo effect, obverse.

Obverse side of a cent after 17 years of circulation

Detail of reverse showing Lincoln Memorial and statue.

The following types of cents have been produced: Image File history File linksMetadata Download high resolution version (910x910, 596 KB)Media:Example. ... Image File history File linksMetadata Download high resolution version (910x910, 596 KB)Media:Example. ... A beautiful example of a proof coin. ... 2002 Lincoln cent, obverse, proof with cameo Cameo is a method of carving, or an item of jewelry made in this manner. ... In logic (and usually without being paired with reverse), obverse has a meaning close to contrapositive. ... Image File history File links Size of this preview: 637 × 600 pixelsFull resolution (2124 × 2000 pixel, file size: 1. ... Image File history File links Size of this preview: 637 × 600 pixelsFull resolution (2124 × 2000 pixel, file size: 1. ... Download high resolution version (999x989, 212 KB) Wikipedia does not have an article with this exact name. ... Download high resolution version (999x989, 212 KB) Wikipedia does not have an article with this exact name. ...

Large Cents: The United States large cent was a coin with a face value of 1/100 of a United States dollar. ...

• Flowing Hair Chain (1793)
• Flowing Hair Wreath (1793)
• Liberty Cap (1793–1796)
• Draped Bust (1796–1807)
• Classic Head (1808–1814)
• Coronet (1816–1839)
• Braided Hair (1839–1857)

Small Cents: The Chain cent was the first coin produced by the U.S. Mint. ... The Wreath cent design was created to address public criticism of the original Chain cent. ...

• Flying Eagle (1856–1858)
• Indian Head (1859–1909)
• Lincoln Wheat Ears (1909–1958)
• Lincoln Memorial (1959–2008)

HI :] 1857 Flying Eagle Cent - obverse 1857 Flying Eagle Cent - reverse The Flying Eagle cent is a United States coin that was minted from 1857 to 1858. ... The Indian Head one-cent coin was produced by the United States Mint from 1859 to 1909. ... The Lincoln Wheat Ears Cent or Wheat Penny was a United States one-cent coin produced from 1909 to 1958. ...

Throughout its history, the Lincoln cent has featured several fonts for the date, but most of the digits have been old-style numerals, except with the 4 and 8 neither ascending nor descending. The only significant divergence is that the 3 was non-descending (the same size as a 0, 1, or 2) in the early history, before switching to descending for one year in 1934 and then permanently (as of 2004) in 1943. Hoefler Text, a contemporary font, uses text figures. ... 2004 is a leap year starting on Thursday of the Gregorian calendar. ...

The Lincoln Memorial is shown on the reverse of the United States cent. In his treatise Theory and Practise of Numismatic Design, Steve Crooks states that because the Lincoln Memorial is shown in sufficient detail to discern the statue of Lincoln on the reverse of the cent, Abraham Lincoln was the only person to be depicted on both the obverse and reverse of the same United States coin, up until the release of New Jersey state quarter in 1999, which depicts George Washington crossing the Delaware River on the reverse side. Obverse of redesigned quarter The 50 State Quarters program is the release of a series of commemorative coins by the United States Mint. ... George Washington (February 22, 1732 – December 14, 1799)[1] led Americas Continental Army to victory over Britain in the American Revolutionary War (1775–1783), and in 1789 was elected the first President of the United States of America. ... For the Delaware River in Kansas, see Delaware River (Kansas) The Delaware River is a river on the Atlantic coast of the United States. ...

Redesign

In 2009 the cent will get a one-year, four-coin commemorative program marking the 100th anniversary of Lincoln being placed on the cent, and the 200th anniversary of his birth.(as well as the 50th anniversary(last year)of the Lincoln Memorial being on the U.S penny.)^[4] This redesign was passed as part of the Presidential $1 Coin Act of 2005, which also mandates that in 2009, numismatic cents will be issued for collectors that have the metallic copper content of cents minted in 1909.^[5] In 2010, the cent will be completely redesigned, with a new, permanent design being released into circulation. Lincoln, however, will remain on the coin. The composition will return to copper plated zinc. 2009 (MMIX) will be a common year starting on Thursday of the Gregorian calendar. ... The Presidential $1 Coin Program (Public Law 109-145; 119 Stat. ...

Criticism

Main article: Efforts to eliminate the penny in the United States

1959 US cent, first year mint with Lincoln Memorial design on reverse.

Various commentators have suggested that the cent should be eliminated as a unit of currency for several reasons including that many Americans do not actually spend them, but rather only receive them in change at stores and proceed to return them to a bank for higher denomination currencies. Most modern vending machines do not accept cents, further diminishing their utility, and the production cost now exceeds the face value of the coin due to increasing metal prices.^[6] In 2001 and 2006, for example, United States Representative Jim Kolbe of Arizona introduced bills which would have stopped production of cents (in 2001 the Legal Tender Modernization Act, and in 2006 the Currency Overhaul for an Industrious Nation (COIN) Act).^[7] 1959 US cent, first year mint with Lincoln Memorial design on reverse. ... Image File history File links Download high-resolution version (1986x907, 382 KB)1100 DPI scan of a 1959 United States cent (penny). ... Image File history File links Download high-resolution version (1986x907, 382 KB)1100 DPI scan of a 1959 United States cent (penny). ... Year 2001 (MMI) was a common year starting on Monday (link displays the 2001 Gregorian calendar). ... Year 2006 (MMVI) was a common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. ... The House of Representatives is the larger of two houses that make up the U.S. Congress, the other being the United States Senate. ... James Thomas Jim Kolbe (born June 28, 1942)) is a former Republican member of the United States House of Representatives, serving from 1985 to 2007. ... Official language(s) English Spoken language(s) English 74. ... Year 2001 (MMI) was a common year starting on Monday (link displays the 2001 Gregorian calendar). ... The Legal Tender Modernization Act was an act proposed by United States Representative Jim Kolbe of Arizona in 2002. ... Year 2006 (MMVI) was a common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. ...

See also

Numismatics Portal

• Large cent (United States coin)
• Mill (currency)
• United States Mint coin production
• Take a penny, leave a penny

Image File history File linksMetadata Download high resolution version (910x910, 596 KB)Media:Example. ... The United States large cent was a coin with a face value of 1/100 of a United States dollar. ... The mill or mille(â‚¥) (sometimes mil in the UK) is an abstract unit of currency. ... Production values for each year are the sum of all facility outputs of business strike coins. ... This article or section does not cite its references or sources. ...

References

Year 2006 (MMVI) was a common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. ... is the 357th day of the year (358th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... The New York Times is an internationally known daily newspaper published in New York City and distributed in the United States and many other nations worldwide. ... is the 112th day of the year (113th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2006 (MMVI) was a common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. ... is the 146th day of the year (147th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2007 (MMVII) is the current year, a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar and the AD/CE era. ... Seal of the U.S. Mint The United States Mint primarily produces circulating coinage for the United States to conduct its trade and commerce. ... Year 2006 (MMVI) was a common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. ... is the 334th day of the year (335th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2006 (MMVI) was a common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. ... is the 350th day of the year (351st in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... USA Today is a national American daily newspaper published by the Gannett Company. ... Year 2006 (MMVI) was a common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. ... is the 129th day of the year (130th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2006 (MMVI) was a common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. ... is the 277th day of the year (278th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... The Cable News Network, usually referred to as CNN, is a cable television network founded in 1980 by Ted Turner and Reese Schonfeld [1] [2] (although the latter is not currently recognized in CNNs official history). ... Year 2006 (MMVI) was a common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. ... is the 199th day of the year (200th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2006 (MMVI) was a common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. ... is the 277th day of the year (278th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ...

External links

• The Composition of the Cent from the U.S. Mint website
• "Penny Foolish", by David Margolick, New York Times, February 11, 2007 - a brief popular history of the cent.
• The Controversy over the Lincoln Penny
• Why does Lincoln face to the right? - An article explaining why Lincoln faces to the right on the US Cent
• Man tries to get rid of million pennies, USATODAY/AP, 7/1/2004
• Not So Common Cents - shortage of pennies, FindArticles, August 16, 1999
• December 14, 2006 press release by United States Mint concerning new rules outlawing the melting of pennies and nickels