The Lincoln Cent: The Longest Running Coin Series

Coin collection is a wonderful hobby that preserves remnants of history in a form of a coin. There is, of course, a wide variety of coins that may have not existed long enough to gain historical value but in the future, may have their timely values.

Coins have existed for a long, long time, and since the start of coin collection, coin series of different categories began to develop. The longest running coin series in the history of The United States is the Lincoln Cent Series, and also among the longest running coin types in the world coinage history.

The U.S. Lincoln Cent has been designed by Victor David Brenner. His initials are associated with the coin design he created. His initials, VDB, are found in the Lincoln Cent first releases at the time of President Theodore Roosevelt, although they were later removed because of some issues. These coins first came into circulation in the year or 1909.

There were six types of Lincoln Cents issued in 1909 which are the Indian Head Cent 1909, Indian Head Cent 1909-S, Lincoln Wheat Cent 1909 VDB, Lincoln Wheat Cent 1909_S VDB, Lincoln Wheat Cent 1909 and the Lincoln Wheat Cent 1909-S. In 1918, the VDB was restored to the coins and it remains on the coins to this day. These letters are found at the base of Lincoln’s bust.

In 1942 and 1943, there was a change of coin metals made, including the Lincoln Cent Series. Because of WWII and the needs for copper and tin skyrocketed for military use, the U.S. Mint left only a small trace of tin in the cent alloy and changed the metal from bronze to brass. 1942 Lincoln Cents are then made from both of these alloys.

In 1943, the Mint decided to remove all traces of copper and resorted to cheaper alternatives in making the cents. 1943 Lincoln Cents were made from alloy composed of steel coated with a thin zinc layer. This resulted to a poor coin condition. It shone like a dime when new, but corroded after the zinc layer wore off. These were the coins nobody wanted, since they did not work on vending machines. In 1944, the Mint was forced to resume making brass-alloy coins, and in 1947, the Lincoln Cent returned to the bronze alloy it used before WWII.

There was also this Doubled Die Lincoln Cents Saga in 1955. This was because of a minting error resulting in a coin die getting two impressions hubbed into it. An estimated number of 20,000 to 24,000 coins were doubled die coins, but they were let out to the public nevertheless.

The Lincoln Cents have gone through a lot in the last hundred years since it first came out. Because of this, this coin series is a must-have for professional coin collectors out there.

Whether you are a beginner or have already been in the coin-collecting hobby for some time, Colonial Acres Coins will be able to help you in every step of the way. With more than a decade in the business, it is our aim to help numismatists grow their collection and eventually, spread the love for coin collecting.