Genuine United States Mint: 1909-1958 BU Copper  
Lincoln Wheat Cent  (20522) 

To honor the centennial of Abraham Lincoln’s birth, the 50-year old Indian Head Cent design was changed to feature a portrait of the beloved president. The new design has proved even more popular, Lincoln’s portrait has outlived all other coins of its day, has been reproduced on more coins than any other design in the history of the world, and the coin is a favorite among collectors. Yet when the Lincoln Cent was first issued, it caused a storm of criticism. Not realizing that engravers routinely sign their designs with subtle initial, people were ortraged at seeing designer Victor D Brenner’s initials on the coin. The letters were immediately removed by the mint and not restored until nine years later, in 1918. Except for the initial, the Lincoln Cent remained  unchanged for 50 years. when the reverse was redesigned to honor the sequicentennial of Lincoln’s birth.

Specifications:
Designer: Victor David Brenner
Years Issued: 1909-1958
Where Minted:  Philadelphia, Denver and San Francisco
Diameter: 19mm; Weight: 3.11gms;
Composition: .950 Copper .050 Tin and Zinc
Rarest Date: 1909S VDB