| The Penny, or more properly the Cent, has a long | | | | All the coins minted during this time are |
| history in the United States and Europe has used | | | | considered "Large Cents" and were slightly larger |
| the penny for much longer, over a thousand | | | | than the current quarter. It wasn't until 1856 that |
| years (the word penny comes from the English | | | | the penny became the size we know today. |
| word Pence). From the first penny minted in 1787 | | | | The Flying Eagle penny was the first small cent |
| to the current Lincoln penny, the coin has been an | | | | (the size of the current penny) and was produced |
| important part of the United States monetary | | | | from 1856 to 1858. The coin was artistically well |
| system for over 300 years. | | | | designed, but due to similar raised areas on both |
| The United States penny has had many different | | | | the front and back of the coin, had production |
| designs throughout its history, some lasting only a | | | | difficulties. In 1859 the Flying Eagle was |
| few years and others over a century. The first | | | | discontinued and production of the Indian Head |
| penny was pressed by a private mint in 1787 and | | | | Penny began. An interesting bit of trivia is that the |
| was created due to combat counterfeit coins that | | | | woman on the front of the coin does not |
| were so rampant at the time that they were | | | | represent an American Indian, but Liberty wearing |
| damaging the early country's economy. Benjamin | | | | an Indian headdress. According to legend, James |
| Franklin designed the coin and it was known as | | | | Longacre, the coins designer, had his daughter |
| the "Fugio" (I fly) cent because of the prominent | | | | model for the portrait. |
| inscription on the front side of the coin. | | | | In 1909 the Lincoln penny was introduced to |
| The first circulating coin produced by the actual | | | | commemorate Lincoln's 100th birthday. |
| United States Mint was the Chain cent. Produced | | | | Interestingly, this was the first coin to show an |
| in 1793, a mere six years after the Fugio cent, | | | | actual historical person. Earlier coins displayed |
| the Chain cent contained the head of liberty on | | | | Liberty, representing a concept, but not a real |
| the front side and on the reverse, 15 interlocking | | | | person. The first Lincoln penny had two wheat |
| chains representing the then 15 states. The chains | | | | heads on the reverse side, but in 1959, Lincoln's |
| on the back of the coin were not popular with the | | | | 150th birthday, this was changed to the Lincoln |
| public and they were quickly replaced with a | | | | Memorial building. For Lincoln's 200th birthday in |
| wreath of leaves. From 1793 to 1857 a variety of | | | | 2009, four designs commemorating Lincoln's life |
| different designs were introduced, and due to the | | | | were used for the reverse of the penny. Starting |
| primitive methods used to mint coins during that | | | | in 2010 a new shield design will be used. |
| time, may variations of the coins were created. | | | | |