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Things to Find on a Lincoln Penny

One of the first coins created in the U.S. Mint was the copper penny, which was introduced in 1792. Compared to the 2010 version of the Lincoln penny, which is smaller and includes a combination of copper and zinc, the 1792 penny had a much larger shape and was made of pure copper. The 1792 U.S. penny had images only on the obverse side, which featured a woman with flowing hair symbolizing freedom.

Obverse Side
- The obverse side of the 2010 penny bears four images. The central part of the penny bears the image of Victor David Brenner's likeness of President Abraham Lincoln. The penny has carried his image since 1909. The penny also carries the nation's motto, "In God We Trust." According to the U.S. Department of the Treasury, this motto was placed on U.S. coins mainly because of religious sentiments that existed during the Civil War, and several Acts have passed since 1864 to authorize inscription of this motto on U.S. coins. The year 2010 is also displayed because this is the year the penny was given a new look. The coin has the word "LIBERTY" inscribed on it toward the left side.
Reverse Side
- The reverse side of the penny has 13 vertical strips and a horizontal bar above the stripes. These strips signify the 13 original states and the horizontal bar signifies the states connection to the federal government. The horizontal bar is inscribed with "E Pluribus Unum," which is Latin for "out of many, one." The upper rim of the penny is emblazoned with "UNITED STATES OF AMERICA." This side of the coin also features a union shield with a scroll wrapped across it bearing the inscription "ONE CENT."
2009 Changes
- In 2009, the U.S. Mint released four different versions of the Lincoln penny. At that time, the mint introduced some significant changes to the coin to celebrate the bicentennial of President Lincoln's birth and the 100th anniversary of the Lincoln penny. The changes to the penny released in 2009 signify the four chief facets of President Lincoln's life. These, according to the mint, include his birth and early childhood, his formative years in Indiana, his professional life in Illinois and his presidency in Washington, DC.
2008 Penny
- The 2008 penny was made from 88 percent copper and 12 percent nickel. The obverse side of the penny bared a lady with flowing hair. The reverse side of the 2008 penny featured an image of the Lincoln Memorial. This image pays tribute to the 150th birth anniversary of President Lincoln. Pennies produced from 1909 to 1958 displayed Lincoln obverse paired on the reverse with a wheat design. Two sheaves of wheat displayed the words "ONE CENT" and 'UNITED STATES OF AMERICA." This was also known as the Wheat penny.

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