A Century of Lincoln Cents: Wheat, Memorial & Beyond

The Lincoln cent is the coin that built the hobby in America. Introduced in 1909 for Lincoln's centennial, it was the first U.S. circulating coin to bear a real historical figure, designed by Victor David Brenner. It has been struck every year since — longer than any other U.S. design — which means a date-and-mint run is a tour through more than a century of history you can still pull from pocket change. For most collectors, it is where everything begins.

The two great designs

There are two classic reverses. The 'Wheat' cent (1909–1958) frames the denomination with two wheat ears and is the heart of the series for collectors. The 'Memorial' cent (1959–2008) shows the Lincoln Memorial — and, in a lovely detail, the seated Lincoln statue is just visible inside, making it one of the few coins to feature the same person on both sides. Later issues include the 2009 bicentennial designs and the current Shield reverse.

The keys every collector learns

A handful of dates and varieties carry the series, and their names are part of the hobby's vocabulary. Learn these first — they drive the cost and the fun of a Wheat-cent set.

• 1909-S VDB — the famous key; Brenner's initials on a low-mintage San Francisco coin.
• 1914-D — a scarce, much-counterfeited Denver date.
• 1922 'No D' — a Denver cent struck from a worn die that lost its mint mark.
• 1931-S — a low-mintage Depression-era favourite.
• 1943 steel cent — wartime zinc-coated steel; the off-metal 1943 bronze is a six-figure rarity.
• 1955 Doubled Die — bold doubling in the date and legends; a celebrity error.

Why it is the perfect teacher

Lincoln cents teach numismatics cheaply and well. Filling a folder hole by hole teaches you dates, mint marks, and grading on coins that cost cents. The series introduces the great themes of the hobby — key dates, mint errors, doubled dies, and the steep premium for original red mint-state surfaces — without a steep price. Watch out for two things: counterfeit and altered keys (especially fake 1909-S VDB and 1914-D mint marks), and overgraded 'red' coins that have been cleaned or recoloured. Buy keys certified, buy original surfaces, and a Lincoln set will teach you more than any book.