U.S Penny introduction
Penny (United States coin)
The United States one-cent coin, commonly known as a penny, is a unit of currency equaling one one-hundredth of a United States dollar. Its symbol is ¢. Its obverse has featured the profile of President Abraham Lincoln since 1909, the centennial of his birth. From 1959 (the sesquicentennial of Lincoln's birth) to 2008, the reverse featured the Lincoln Memorial. Four different reverse designs in 2009 honored Lincoln's 200th birthday, while a new, permanent reverse was introduced in 2010. The coin is 0.75 inches (19.05 mm) in diameter and 0.061 inches (1.55 mm) in thickness.
History of composition
| Years | Material |
|---|---|
| 1793–1857 | copper |
| 1857–1864 | 88% copper, 12% nickel (also known as NS-12) |
| 1864–1942 | bronze (95% copper, 5% tin and zinc) |
| 1943 | zinc-coated steel (also known as steel penny) |
| 1944–1946 | brass (95% copper, 5% zinc) |
| 1946–1962 | bronze (95% copper, 5% tin and zinc) |
| 1962–1982 | brass (95% copper, 5% zinc) |
| 1982–2009 | 97.5% zinc core, 2.5% copper plating |
| 2009 (Limited) | bronze (95% copper, 5% tin and zinc) |
| 2010–present | 97.5% zinc core, 2.5% copper plating |
| Value | 0.01 of a dollar U.S. dollar |
|---|---|
| Mass | 2.5 g (0.080 troy oz) |
| Diameter | 19.05 mm (0.750 in) |
| Thickness | 1.55 mm (0.061 in) |
| Edge | Plain |
| Composition | Copper-plated zinc 97.5% Zn, 2.5% Cu |
| Years of minting | 1909–present |
| Catalog number | – |
| Obverse | |
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| Design | Abraham Lincoln |
| Designer | Victor D. Brenner |
| Design date | 1909 (design was modified in 2010)[1] |
| Reverse | |
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| Design | Union shield |
| Designer | Lyndall Bass |
| Design date | 2010 |
