Lincoln Penny Issued in 1909

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, it replaced the "Indian Head" penny.


The back (reverse) of the penny pictures the Lincoln Memorial, a monument to Abraham Lincoln located in Washington, D. C. look closely at a real penny, you can see a tiny picture of Lincoln sitting inside the Lincoln Memorial.


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