• The first of the five cent denomination struck in nickel, although in reality it is a composition of pure copper and nickel. Shield nickels were first minted in 1866, and after 1873 were the sole representative for the 5 cent denomination. • A shield was placed on the obverse, with horizontal lines on top and vertical under. A large cross was placed on top. Under the shield, arrows are visible on both sides, The motto IN GOD WE TRUST is above the shield, and the date below. • The reverse feature a large 5 inside a circle of 13 stars. • The shield nickel remained to be produced until 1883, when it was replaced by the Liberty nickel. • The Lincoln cent is the current one cent coin of the US Dollar. It was adopted in 1909, replacing the Indian Head cent. Its obverse, featuring a bust of Abraham Lincoln (to commemorate his centennial), has been in continuous usage. Its reverse was changed in 1959 from a wheat stalks design to a design which includes the Lincoln Memorial and was replaced again in 2009 with four new designs to commemorate Lincoln's bicentennial. There are more one-cent coins produced than any other denomination, which makes the Lincoln cent a familiar item. In its lifespan, this coin has weathered both world wars, one of which temporarily changed its composition, due to metal needs as part of war effort. The obverse is the longest design used for any circulating American design. • Until 2009, the Lincoln Memorial was shown on the reverse of the United States penny from 1959 to 2009. Because the Lincoln Memorial was shown in sufficient detail to discern the statue of Lincoln on the reverse of the penny, Abraham Lincoln was at that time the only person to be depicted on both the obverse and reverse of the same United States coin. Some of the 2009 reverse design series no longer showed Abraham Lincoln, and the 2010 Lincoln Union Shield has removed the president from the coin reverse for the foreseeable future. |