Lincoln Memorial Cent, Zinc (1983-2008) : A Collector’s Guide

By Charles Morgan and Hubert Walker for CoinWeek Notes …..
 

The Lincoln Memorial, Zinc Cent, generally referred to by coin collectors because the “Zincoln“, was a one-cent coin issued by the United States Mint from 1982 to 2008. The coin is artistically just like the copper model issued from 1959-1982 however was struck with more and more shallower reduction because the years progressed. Moreover, minor adjustments had been made to the design to accommodate the lighter zinc planchets.

Cent’s Copper Composition Overdue for Change

Issues concerning the price of copper cent planchets arose through the coin scarcity of the Sixties and have become more and more acute within the early ’70s when battle demand and the lifting of worth controls noticed a broader commodities increase that elevated costs throughout the board. With the transition from silver to clad coinage within the mid-’60s, demand for all denominations of United States cash had reached annual ranges by no means earlier than seen. The Federal Authorities was involved in regards to the elevated value of manufacturing the one-cent coin and commenced to search for cheaper options.

In 1974, aluminum was thought-about as a substitute however was rejected. After copper costs softened halfway by means of 1974, Congress centered its consideration on extra urgent coinage issues – just like the Bicentennial Coin Program and making a small greenback coin which may flow into. The Bicentennial cash of 1975 and 1976 had been launched to nice fanfare and public help, however the Susan B. Anthony Greenback was not. In 1981, President Reagan’s Treasury Division started a collection of main initiatives on the Mint. Among the many early actions had been the shelving of the Susan B. Anthony Greenback coin program, the reintroduction of the commemorative coin program, and the change in composition of the Lincoln Cent.

Amassing Lincoln Memorial, Zinc Cents

The Lincoln Memorial, Zinc Cent is a typical coin sort, and all Philadelphia and Denver points could be present in circulation. With the Mint’s annual Uncirculated Coin Units and bag and roll portions of cash, each concern within the collection survives in Mint State at numbers within the tons of of hundreds to one million or extra. Due to this, collectors are most occupied with buying Mint State examples, notably examples that retain their unique “brassy” colour.

A number of collectible Lincoln Memorial, Zinc Cent varieties are enumerated within the Cherrypicker’s Information, essentially the most wanted being the 1984 Doubled Die Obverse, the 1988 and 1988-D, Reverse of ’89, the 1992 and 1992-D “Shut AM,” the 1995 Doubled Die, and the 1998 “Large AM”. For Proofs, the 1990 “No S,” and the 1998-S and 1999-S “Shut AM” are in excessive demand.

The Zinc Cent Period Attracts to a Shut

The ultimate Lincoln Memorial, Zinc Cents had been issued in 2008. In 2009, the Mint commemorated the two hundredth Anniversary of the Beginning of Abraham Lincoln with a four-coin collection of cents representing completely different durations within the President’s life. Beginning in 2010, the Lincoln Cent was issued with a brand new design depicting a defend with ONE CENT emblazoned on a ribbon. Provided that in 1909, 1¢ had the buying energy of 32¢ in 2024 cash, it’s fairly probably that the Lincoln Protect Cent would be the final design of the historic denomination that traces its circulation in America again to the Colonial interval.

In-Depth Lincoln Memorial, Zinc Cent Date Evaluation by CoinWeek Notes

Design

Obverse:

A right-facing Lincoln occupies a lot of the obverse. On the high, inside a raised rim and above Lincoln’s head, is the motto IN GOD WE TRUST. To the left of the portrait is the phrase LIBERTY, and to the proper and barely decrease, is the date. Lincoln Memorial Cents had been minted at Philadelphia, Denver, and San Francisco; D and S mintmarks seem beneath the date.

Reverse:

The reverse heart has a distinguished depiction of the Lincoln Memorial in Washington, D.C., the statue of Abraham Lincoln seen inside. To the proper of the Memorial’s base are designer Frank Gasparro’s initials FG. The legend UNITED STATES oF AMERICA on the high and the denomination written out as ONE CENT on the backside type almost an entire textual content circle contained in the raised rim. The motto E PLURIBUS UNUM is positioned above the Memorial, with UNUM on a separate line; centered dots are positioned between E and PLURIBUS and on both sides of UNUM.

Edge:

The sting of the Lincoln Memorial Cent is apparent or easy, with out reeding or edge lettering.

Coin Specs

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Further References

Bowers, Q. David. The Consultants Information to Amassing and Investing in Uncommon Cash. Whitman Publishing.

–. A Information E-book of Lincoln Cents. Whitman Publishing.

–. A Information E-book of United States Sort Cash. Whitman Publishing.

Guth, Ron, and Jeff Garrett. United States Coinage: A Research by Sort. Whitman Publishing.

Lange, David W. The Full Information to Lincoln Cents. Zyrus Press.

Yeoman, R.S., and Kenneth Bressett (editor). The Official Pink E-book: A Information E-book of United States Cash. Whitman Publishing.
 

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