The Lincoln Penny

THE CONTROVERSY OVER THE LINCOLN PENNY

The Lincoln Penny was first issued in 1909 to commemorate Abraham Lincoln's 100th birthday. It was the first American coin to bear a president's image on its face. Lincoln is facing to the right because that was the direction he was facing in the photograph Victor David Brenner used to make his bas-relief for the penny. Some of the arguments this coin evoked among Americans are mentioned below.

(1) Certain people felt a man of Lincoln's importance deserved to be on a higher denomination than a penny. The counter argument to this was that Lincoln was the common people's president; therefore the penny was the appropriate choice.

(2) Some citizens, including many Southerners, were disturbed that putting the features of a president on a coin was too reminiscent of European monarchies. It didn't "fit" with their idea of U.S. democracy.

(3) Criticism was directed at the replacement of the Indian Head cents. These had been in circulation since 1859 and were one of the most famous of all United States coins.

(4) There was a major outcry over the placement of Victor David Brenner's initials (V.D.B.) on the backside of the coin. Brenner was the Lincoln penny's designer. The protest was so loud that President William H. Taft's Secretary of the Treasury ordered all initials except the "B" removed within one week of the original issue. Still, over 28,000,000 of the "V.D.B." pennies were struck. Later, Brenner's initials were moved from the rear of the coin, where they had been clearly visible, and which was what started the protest, and placed below the "bevel" of the bust, slightly to the left of center when looking at the coin, in letters so small you need a very strong magnifier and an almost new penny to see them. But they are there, on every penny minted from 1919 to the present day.

Note: The photograph of Lincoln is from the Library of Congress and was taken February 9, 1864, in Mathew Brady's Washington studio. The actual photographer was Anthony Berger. This is the profile Brenner chose for the penny. President Theodore Roosevelt approved his choice. The photograph which adorns our $5 bill was also taken on that same date.

The reverse design of the 2010 Lincoln cent has been unveiled by United States Mint. Also, Abraham Lincoln will be one of the four presidents featured in the 2010 Presidential $1 Circulating Coin series. CLICK HERE for more information on the Lincoln dollar.

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