Lincoln Memorial Cent (1959-2008)

The Lincoln cent was redesigned in 1959 to celebrate the 150th anniversary of Abraham Lincoln’s birth. The new Lincoln Memorial cent continued Victor D. Brenner’s Lincoln portrait obverse design, while Frank Gasparro’s new reverse featured the Lincoln Memorial. Rising copper prices led to three composition changes. Cents dated 1959-1962 were struck in 95% copper, 5% tin and zinc, while those dated 1962-1982 were 95% copper and 5% zinc. Issues dated 1982-2008 were coined in copper-plated zinc.