U.S. Mint coin reference

Lincoln Penny: Wheat, Memorial & Shield Cents

This combined Lincoln penny page keeps Wheat cents, Memorial cents, and Shield cents together while giving each major design its own clear identification data and description.

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1909-1958 Lincoln Wheat Penny obverse real coin photo

Reference photos: Wikimedia Commons / public coin image sources.

Lincoln Wheat Penny

Wheat cents show Lincoln on the obverse and two wheat ears on the reverse. This is the classic early Lincoln cent design, with key collector dates such as 1909-S VDB, 1914-D, 1922 no D, and 1931-S. Separate the regular bronze issues from the 1943 steel wartime coins when checking weight, color, and value.

Quick identification data

Years made1909-1958

DenominationOne cent

Composition1909-1942 and 1944-1958 bronze; 1943 zinc-coated steel wartime cents; 1944-1946 shell-case bronze alloy.

Weight3.11 g bronze; about 2.70 g for 1943 steel cents

Diameter19.0 mm

EdgePlain

DesignerVictor David Brenner

Krause numberKM# 132 and related listings by year/composition

1959-2008 Lincoln Memorial Penny obverse real coin photo

Reference photos: Wikimedia Commons / public coin image sources.

Lincoln Memorial Penny

Memorial cents keep Lincoln on the obverse and use the Lincoln Memorial reverse. This series includes the 1982 composition transition and popular varieties such as doubled dies and close/wide AM reverse varieties. Keep Memorial cents separate from Wheat and Shield cents because the reverse design and copper/zinc weight checks are different.

Quick identification data

Years made1959-2008

DenominationOne cent

Composition1959-1982 mainly bronze; 1982 transition copper/zinc; 1983-2008 copper-plated zinc.

Weight3.11 g bronze/copper issues; 2.50 g copper-plated zinc issues

Diameter19.0 mm

EdgePlain

DesignerObverse by Victor David Brenner; Memorial reverse by Frank Gasparro

Krause numberKM# 201 and related copper/zinc listings

2010-present Lincoln Shield Penny obverse real coin photo

Reference photos: Wikimedia Commons / public coin image sources.

Lincoln Shield Penny

Shield cents use the modern Union Shield reverse introduced after the 2009 Bicentennial cent program. These are common modern circulation cents, but high-grade examples, proof issues, and certain mint errors can still be collectible. Do not mix Shield cent photos with Wheat or Memorial cent references because the reverse is completely different.

Quick identification data

Years made2010-present

DenominationOne cent

CompositionCopper-plated zinc: 97.5% zinc, 2.5% copper plating

Weight2.50 g

Diameter19.0 mm

EdgePlain

DesignerObverse by Victor David Brenner; Union Shield reverse by Lyndall Bass and Joseph Menna

Krause numberModern KM listings vary by issue/date

Research links

Use these for deeper verification while keeping the Wheat, Memorial, and Shield cent sections separate.

PCGS Lincoln cent Photograde Errors & varieties guide Graded coin guide