1959 Lincoln Memorial Cent

The first Lincoln Memorial reverse cent was issued in 1959 for the 150th anniversary of Lincoln's birth. The design was done by Frank Gasparro who worked at the mint and was approved with the help of a special Lincoln Sesquicentennial Commission.

At the time some people noted that the reverse looked like a trolley car but as trolleys became less popular those comparisons did not last long. The Lincoln Memorial national monument was dedicated in 1922 and has been a sacred place for almost a hundred years. It is also on the reverse of the five dollar bill and other coins throughout the years. It also has been in many movies because of the iconic sitting Lincoln at the center.

For a Lincoln Memorial cent to get a high grade all the steps and columns on the Memorial must but clear, sharp, and unmarked in any way. A thing most people do not realize is that Lincoln is featured twice on this cent, the tiny sitting Lincoln statue should be visible in the center of the reverse. After 50 years the Lincoln reverse was retired and new designs were issued. Lasting from 1959-2008 this is the cent that I grew up with and will always be my standard cent.

Here's the stats...
Type/Country: 1 Cent  / United States
Year: 1959
Mintage: 609,715,000
Metal: 95% Copper, 5% Tin and Zinc
Value: $0.02 in EF-40

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