Benjamin Franklin
Benjamin Franklin reportedly designed the first American penny in 1787. Known as the Fugio cent, it bears the image of a sun and sundial above the message “Mind Your Business.” A chain with 13 links, each representing one of the original colonies, encircles the motto “We Are One” on the reverse.
Why is Abraham Lincoln on a penny?
President Theodore Roosevelt introduced the Lincoln penny in 1909 in honor of the 100th anniversary of Lincoln’s birth. It was the first American coin to feature the likeness of a real person. In 1900, a mid-week New York Times went for a penny (three cents on Sunday).
How old is the oldest penny?
The first official U.S. penny was minted in 1787 according to coinfacts.com, so this would make the oldest U.S. penny 227 years old as of 2014. According to the Professional Coin Grading service, these coins are still in existence.
Who was the first person to be on a penny?
Every penny you’ve ever spent probably had Abraham Lincoln on it. He’s been on the front (obverse) of the penny since 1909! When the United States Mint was created in 1792, one of the first coins it made was the one-cent coin, but it looked very different from a modern cent.
Who is on the front of the Penny?
The penny is the United States’ one-cent coin. Every penny you’ve ever spent probably had Abraham Lincoln on it. He’s been on the front (obverse) of the penny since 1909!
What does the back of a US penny look like?
The new cents showed a flying eagle on the front and a wreath on the back. At the same time, Congress stopped people from using money from other countries, though we had used foreign coins for many years. But the Mint could melt them down and make them into United States coins.
What’s the name of the mint that makes pennies?
In honor of the Mint’s 225th anniversary in 2017, pennies made in Philadelphia had a “P” mint mark for the first time. In 2019, the West Point Mint made special collectible pennies with a “W” mint mark. Obverse (heads): Shows the familiar likeness of President Lincoln featured since 1909.
