lincoln memorial cents

After fifty years of production and widespread circulation, the reverse design of the Lincoln Cent was changed. The redesign coincided with the 150th anniversary of the birth of Abraham Lincoln. The new reverse would feature a depiction of the Lincoln Memorial by Frank Gasparro. The obverse of the coin would continue to feature the bust of Lincoln, originally designed by Victor D. Brenner.

The Lincoln Memorial Cent series generally had higher mintage levels for individual issues than the prior Lincoln Wheat Cents. For this reason, the “wheaties” are generally saved from circulation while the coins displaying the Memorial reverse are left to circulate. However, there are some lower mintage coins produced at the San Francisco Mint.