2010 Lincoln Cents

The 2010 Lincoln Cent will debut a brand new reverse design for the long running series. This will mark the seventh reverse design used on the Lincoln Cent since its introduction in 1909. The first design used from 1909 to 1958 featured a pair of wheat ears. The second design used from 1959 to 2008 featured a view of the Lincoln Memorial. The next four reverse designs were issued during 2009 to represent the different stages of Abraham Lincoln’s life. The design to be used from 2010 onwards will feature the union shield.

The union shield features thirteen vertical stripes joined by a single horizontal bar at the top with the inscription “E Pluribus Unum” (Out of many one). This symbolizes the original thirteen states joined together in a single compact union. A scroll appears across the shield with the denomination “One Cent” and “United States of America” appears above the shield.

The same legislation that created the four different 2009 Lincoln Cent reverse designs, also provided for the new reverse design to be issued starting in 2010. This final design is intended to be emblematic of President Lincoln’s preservation of the United States as a single and united country.  The selection of the union shield design was officially announced by the United States Mint on November 12, 2009. Read more about the union shield reverse design.

Initially, there had been 18 design candidate for the 2010 Lincoln Cent prepared by the United States Mint. These designs incorporated one or more of the following elements: the United States Capitol building, the American Flag, a shield, an eagle, and bound wheat stalks.

Before the selection of the final design, these candidate designs were reviewed by the Commission of Fine Arts (CFA) and the Citizens Coinage Advisory Committee (CCAC). The CFA initially chose the design featuring bound wheat stalks, but switched their recommendation to a 34 star flag after the wheat stalks design was removed from consideration. The CCAC backed the union shield design that was eventually selected by the Secretary of the Treasury. View all 18 of the original 2010 Lincoln Penny Design Proposals.

This site will be updated as new information about the upcoming coin release becomes available. Check back soon for updates!