Small Cent

By the end of the 1850's, the cost of making copper coins was on the rise, and both the Large and Half Cents had become unpopular. The Half Cents were discontinued and the birth of the new Small Cent came to be. In 1857 new benefits were brought to the consumers, and they were able to turn in their Spanish coins, and in return were given the new Small Cent. And with the adoption of the new decimal system, the terms of reals, medios, and shillings were abandoned for the new age.

Flying Eagle Type (1856 -1858)

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The first of the small cent, the 1856 variety was actually not authorized by congress to be produced. The short lived coin bares an eagle in flight with United States of America above the eagle and the date below on the obverse and ONE CENT surrounded by a wreath tied in a bow at the base. The designer of the this coin was James B. Longacre, it weighed 4.6 grams, and was made of .88 copper and .12 nickel. The diameter of the coin was 19 millimeters and had a plain edge. These coins were minted in Philadelphia, There were a few varieties of the Flying Eagle, some with the A and M in America together and some separated. Leaves in the wreath were different as well, some had corn, while others had tobacco and wheat.

Indian Head Type (1859 - 1909)

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The Liberty Head Small Cent was designed using a representation of an Indian princess. Some also believe that it is Miss Liberty in an Indian headdress, what ever the interpretation, the Indian Head Small Cent was here to stay. United States of America surrounded the Indian princess and the date was below her. On the reverse of the coin is a laurel wreath with a small shield at the top of the wreath and three arrows tied with a bow at the base of the wreath. This coin was also designed by James Longacre, it weighed 4.6 grams, was made of .88 copper and .12 nickel and had a diameter of 19 millimeters.

Lincoln Type, Wheat Head Reverse (1909 - 1958)

In 1909, Victor D Brenner redesigned the small cent to commemorate the 100th anniversary of Lincoln's birthday. It features Lincoln's bust facing to the right with the date on the right and Liberty on the left. The Lincoln Cent was also the first coin to bare the words In God We Trust, which appears above Lincoln's Head. On the obverse of the coin is ONE CENT about half way down the center of the coin with United States of America under it. This is surrounded by to wheat stalks and E Pluribus Unum, which means "One Out of Many, one" is written above the ONE CENT.

Lincoln Type, Memorial Reverse (1959 - Present)

The design of the Lincoln Small Cent changed in 1959, when Frank Gasparro redesigned the coin with the Lincoln Memorial on the reverse to commemorate the 150th anniversary of Lincoln's birthday. The front of the coin didn't change much until 1969, when the head was made slightly smaller. On the reverse of the coin is a picture of the Lincoln Memorial. If you look real closely at the center of the monument you can actually see the statue of Lincoln. Above the memorial is written E Pluribus Unum and ONE CENT below the memorial. United States of America is around the top rim of the coin. The coin had two designers, since the face of the coin was unchanged, V. D. Brenner for the front and Frank Gasparro for the reverse. The coin weighs 3.1 grams, made of .95 copper and .05 tin and zinc. The diameter of the coin was 19 millimeters. The Lincoln small cent was minted in Philadelphia, San Francisco, and Denver.