US Coins - The Lincoln Cent's First Fifty Years

The following is an article excerpt from Coinweek

President Teddy Roosevelt influenced changes in all United States' coin designs between 1907-1921. He became acquainted in 1908 with Victor David Brenner when Brenner was commissioned to do his portrait for the Panama Canal Service Medal. As the Centennial of Lincoln's birth was approaching, Brenner had recently completed a plaque featuring a bust of the beloved former President.

Thus the idea for the Lincoln Cent was born, and the designer chosen. Brenner's obverse displays Lincoln's portrait facing right, with the inscription LIBERTY on the left and the date on the right. For the first time on a cent, the motto IN GOD WE TRUST appears along the upper obverse rim. Two sheaves of wheat frame inscriptions E PLURIBUS UNUM, ONE CENT and UNITED STATES OF AMERICA. While the obverse design continues to this day, the reverse was altered in 1959 on the sesquicentennial of Lincoln's birth to feature the Lincoln Memorial.

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