LINCOLN CENTS 1934-1958

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                              Average Circ                     Average Circ
                   Date      Inv #    Price         Date      Inv #    Price
                   1934      13701     0.50         1946d     13737     0.50
                   1934d     13702     0.95         1946s     13738     0.50
                   1935      13703     0.50         1947      13739     0.50
                   1935d     13704     0.50         1947d     13740     0.50
                   1935s     13705     0.75         1947s     13741     0.50
                   1936      13706     0.50         1948      13742     0.50
                   1936d     13707     0.50         1948d     13743     0.50
                   1936s     13708     0.75         1948s     13744     0.50
                   1937      13709     0.50         1949      13745     0.50
                   1937d     13710     0.75         1949d     13746     0.50
                   1937s     13711     0.75         1949s     13747     0.50
                   1938      13712     0.50         1950      13748     0.50
                   1938d     13713     0.75         1950d     13749     0.50
                   1938s     13714     0.95         1950s     13750     0.50
                   1939      13715     0.50         1951      13751     0.50
                   1939d     13716     0.95         1951d     13752     0.50
                   1939s     13717     0.75         1951s     13753     0.50
                   1940      13718     0.50         1952      13754     0.50
                   1940d     13719     0.50         1952d     13755     0.50
                   1940s     13720     0.50         1952s     13756     0.50
                   1941      13721     0.50         1953      13757     0.50
                   1941d     13722     0.50         1953d     13758     0.50
                   1941s     13723     0.50         1953s     13759     0.50
                   1942      13724     0.50         1954      13760     0.50
                   1942d     13725     0.50         1954d     13761     0.50
                   1942s     13726     0.50         1954s     13762     0.50
                   1943      13727     0.50         1955      13763     0.50
                   1943d     13728     0.95         1955d     13764     0.50
                   1943s     13729     0.95         1955s     13765     0.95
                   1944      13730     0.50         1956      13766     0.50
                   1944d     13731     0.50         1956d     13767     0.50
                   1944s     13732     0.50         1957      13768     0.50
                   1945      13733     0.50         1957d     13769     0.50
                   1945d     13734     0.50         1958      13770     0.50
                   1945s     13735     0.50         1958d     13771     0.50
                   1946      13736     0.50        

Lincoln Cents 1909 - 1933 . . . . . . Lincoln Cents 1959 - 1998


The History of the Lincoln Cent (1909-1998):

The first Lincoln Cent was issued in 1909 in commemoration of the 100th anniversary of President Abraham Lincoln's birth. The Lincoln Cent was the first cent to bear the legend "In God We Trust". While the obverse design has undergone several minor changes over the years this bust of Lincoln has remained almost unchanged. The reverse design has however undergone a complete redesign in 1959 in honor of the 150th anniversary of Lincoln's birth. The original reverse used from 1909 to 1958 depicted two wheat stalks surrounding ONE CENT. From 1959 to the present day, the reverse depicts the Lincoln Memorial Building with ONE CENT at the bottom.

The Lincoln Cent was designed by Victor D. Brenner. The first year of issue, 1909, the designers initials, VDB, were located on the reverse near the rim at the bottom. The public objected to the VDB siting the illegality of defacing coins for personal gain or reputation. The initials were removed the same year creating multiple varieties of 1909 Lincoln Cents. Realizing, years later, the ridicules nature of the change, the VDB was restored to the coin in 1918 at the base of Lincoln's shoulder on the obverse...were it remains to this day.

The composition of the Lincoln Cent has changes many times since its origin in 1909. From 1909 to 1942 the cents were bronze. These cents had a weight of 3.11 grams, a diameter of 19mm, a plain rim, and a composition of 95% copper and 5% tin and zinc. In 1943, copper was needed for the production of ammunition for World War II. For this one year, the Lincoln Cents were made of steel coated with zinc (to prevent rusting). These cents had a weight of 2.70 grams. No bronze cents were officially struck in 1943! From 1944 to 1946 the cents were produced from salvaged cartridge cases. Although the color was slightly different, the coins proved satisfactory in all other respects. These 'shell case' cents had a weight of 3.11 grams and a composition of 95% copper and 5% tin. From 1947 to 1962the original pre-war specifications were resumed. Although the reverse was redesigned in 1959, see above, all other specifications were kept the same. From 1962 to 1982* the tin was dropped from the composition leaving 95% copper and 5% zinc. From 1982* to 1998 the cents have a weight of 2.50 grams and are composed of zinc with a thin copper plating. The exact composition is 99.2% zinc and 0.08% copper. The diameter size and plain rim have remained unchanged since 1909. Lincoln Cents were struck in Philadelphia, Denver, San Francisco, and West Point. (cents struck in Philadelphia and West Point bear no mint mark).

* More on the 1982 Lincoln Cents: This was a transition year, meaning coins of both compositions described above were issued with the 1982 date. Furthermore there was also a variety in the size of the date resulting in Large Date and Small Date varieties. A complete set of 1982 Lincoln Cents, all seven (7) varieties, is available for only $3.95.

Click her to order: #02901.....1982 Seven Variety Cent Set.....$3.95


Key to abbreviations used on this page:

Average Circ. (Average Circulated): A typical circulated coin from the period. All major features are easily identifiable. Date and mint mark are clear and readable .

D (Denver): The 'D' mint mark is located on the obverse directly below the date.

S (San Francisco): The 'S' mint mark is located on the obverse directly below the date. Note: Cents struck in Philadelphia and West Point bear no mint mark.


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