US · Cent · 1909–1958
Lincoln Wheat Cent (1909–1958)
The first US coin to bear a portrait of a real person, designed by Victor David Brenner. Replaced the Indian Head cent. Wheat-ear reverse retained for fifty years before giving way to the Lincoln Memorial in 1959.
i.
Reference photos
Obverse
Photo: The original uploader was 293.xx.xxx.xx at English Wikipedia. / Wikimedia Commons (public-domain) — https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:1943s_steel_cent_obv.jpg (public-domain) 
Photo: US Mint (coin), National Numismatic Collection (photograph by Jaclyn Nash) / Wikimedia Commons (public-domain) — https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:NNC-US-1943-1C-Lincoln_Cent_(wheat,_zinc-coated_steel).jpg (public-domain) 
Photo: Limeparade / Wikimedia Commons (cc-by-sa-4.0) — https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:1943-bronze-cent.jpg (cc-by-sa-4.0) 
Photo: ThiênĐế98 / Wikimedia Commons (cc-by-sa-4.0) — https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Front_side_Wheat_Penny_1945-P.jpg (cc-by-sa-4.0) 
Photo: w:Nauticashades/Nauticashades / Wikimedia Commons (public-domain) — https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:1944_Lincoln_Wheat_Cent.jpg (public-domain) 
Photo: Coin World magazine / Wikimedia Commons (public-domain) — https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Tin_1943_Lincoln_cent.jpg (public-domain) 
Photo: Heritage Coin Auctions / Wikimedia Commons (public-domain) — https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:1942_Aluminum_cent_pattern_obverse.jpg (public-domain) 
Photo: United States Mint / Wikimedia Commons (public-domain) — https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:1909_US_Penny.jpg (public-domain) 
Photo: Unnamed photographer in employ of Bain News Service / Wikimedia Commons (public-domain) — https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Centsless_people.jpg (public-domain) 
Photo: wikipedia / Wikimedia Commons (public-domain) — https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Obverse_(left)_and_reverse_(right)_of_1909-S_VDB_Lincoln_cent.jpg (public-domain) 
Photo: Kevin M. Gill / Wikimedia Commons (cc-by-2.0) — https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:MSL_-_Sol_4386_-_MAHLI_-_Decorrelated_Color_(54191536228).jpg (cc-by-2.0) 
Photo: NASA/JPL-Caltech/Malin Space Science Systems / Wikimedia Commons (public-domain) — https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:MarsCuriosityRover-Penny-20120910.jpg (public-domain) 
Photo: NASA/JPL-Caltech/MSSS / Wikimedia Commons (public-domain) — https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:MarsCuriosityRover-Penny-20131002.jpg (public-domain) 
Photo: NASA/JPL-Caltech/Malin Space Science Systems / Wikimedia Commons (attribution) — https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:PIA16132-MarsCuriosityRover-CalibrationTarget-20120909.jpg (attribution) 
Photo: Kevin M. Gill / Wikimedia Commons (cc-by-2.0) — https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:MSL_-_Sol_3962_-_MAHLI_(53225167394).jpg (cc-by-2.0) 
Photo: MTmitchell9277 / Wikimedia Commons (cc0) — https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:1952_wheat_penny.jpg (cc0) 
Photo: United States. Bureau of the Mint; Borglum, Gutzon, 1867-1941 / Wikimedia Commons (public-domain) — https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Coins_Packed_in_Trunk_By_Charles_A._Lindbergh_Prior_to_His_New_York_to_Paris_Flight_-_DPLA_-_d16d369697240e5d0621cd4f1adbb7f6_(page_4).jpg (public-domain) 
Photo: United States Mint / Wikimedia Commons (public-domain) — https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Usa-1-cent-1954_(1).jpg (public-domain) 
Photo: United States Mint / Wikimedia Commons (public-domain) — https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Usa-1-cent-1954.jpg (public-domain)
Reverse
Photo: The original uploader was 293.xx.xxx.xx at English Wikipedia. / Wikimedia Commons (public-domain) — https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:1943s_steel_cent_rev.jpg (public-domain) 
Photo: Coin World magazine / Wikimedia Commons (public-domain) — https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Tin_1943_Lincoln_cent_reverse_(cropped).jpg (public-domain) 
Photo: Bruxton / Wikimedia Commons (public-domain) — https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:1909_S_VDB_wheat_penny_reverse.jpg (public-domain) 
Photo: Coin: Victor David Brenner, Image by Lost Dutchman Rare Coins / Wikimedia Commons (public-domain) — https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:1909-S_VDB_Lincoln_cent_reverse.jpg (public-domain) 
Photo: United States Mint / Wikimedia Commons (public-domain) — https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:1909_US_Penny_reverse_(cropped).jpg (public-domain)
ii.
Specifications
| Designer | Victor David Brenner |
|---|---|
| Composition | 95% copper / 5% tin & zinc (1909-1942, 1944-1946); zinc-coated steel (1943); 95% copper / 5% zinc (1947-1958) |
| Weight | 3.11 g |
| Diameter | 19.05 mm |
| Edge | Plain |
| Series | Lincoln Wheat Cent |
| Years issued | 1909–1958 |
iii.
Key dates & varieties
| Year | Mintmark | Variety | Mintage | Rarity |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1909 | S | — | 1.8M | semi-key |
| 1909 | S | VDB reverse | 484K | key |
| 1914 | D | — | 1.2M | key |
| 1922 | — | No D | — | key |
| 1931 | S | — | 866K | semi-key |
| 1955 | P | Doubled Die Obverse | — | key |
iv.
All varieties
| Year | Mintmark | Variety | Mintage | Rarity |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1909 | P | VDB reverse | 28.0M | common |
| 1909 | S | — | 1.8M | semi-key |
| 1909 | S | VDB reverse | 484K | key |
| 1914 | D | — | 1.2M | key |
| 1922 | — | No D | — | key |
| 1931 | S | — | 866K | semi-key |
| 1943 | P | Steel cent | 684.6M | common |
| 1955 | P | Doubled Die Obverse | — | key |