What do the symbols on a penny mean?

The person on the obverse (heads) of the penny is Abraham Lincoln, our 16th president. He’s been on the penny since 1909. The current design on the reverse (tails) is a Union Shield. It has been on the penny since 2010. The 13 stripes on the shield represent the 13 original states.

What is the D on a penny?

Sometimes, there’s a single letter under the production date on the heads-side of the penny, called a Mint Mark. There are only three options here: D, meaning the coin was minted in Denver. S, meaning it came from San Francisco, and is an older penny, since the city doesn’t make coins for circulation anymore.

What is a union shield?

The design features the Union Shield, which dates back to the 1780’s and was used widely during the Civil War. The shield includes thirteen vertical stripes joined by an upper horizontal bar. This represents the thirteen original states joined together in a single compact union in support of the federal government.

What is on the back of a penny 2009?

The four designs to be featured on the reverse of the Lincoln pennies represent four major aspects of President Lincoln’s life: his birth and childhood in Kentucky, his formative years in Indiana, his professional life in Illinois and his Presidency in Washington, D.C. The inscriptions on the reverse of the coins will …

What’s on the back of a dime?

The design on the reverse (tails) shows a torch with an olive branch to the left of it and an oak branch to the right. These three objects are symbols for ideas. The torch stands for liberty. The olive branch stands for peace.

Why is the Lincoln Memorial not on the penny?

In 1959, the Wheat Penny’s reverse side was changed. This time the change was to commemorate the sesquicentennial of Lincoln’s birth. The design featured the Lincoln Memorial on the reverse side of the coin and is the most commonly recognized penny today.

Does the US have a penny?

The United States one-cent coin (symbol: ¢), often called the “penny”, is a unit of currency equaling one one-hundredth of a United States dollar. The first U.S. cent was produced in 1787, and the cent has been issued primarily as a copper or copper-plated coin throughout its history. …

Why is Lincoln facing the opposite way?

The Abraham Lincoln penny was minted in 1908 to commemorate the 100-year anniversary of Lincoln’s birth. … Lincoln faced right in the photo, so he faces right on the plaque and faces right on the penny. Thomas Jefferson, on the other hand, started out facing left on the nickel in 1938.

Why is a 1959 d penny worth so much?

1959-D Lincoln Mule Penny Error

There are many types of different mint errors that can occur during the minting process. Some are very subtle and worth a very small premium. Other errors can be very large and noticeable. It is these large errors that are very rare as they are normally found before leaving the Mint.

What makes a 1968 penny rare?

How much is a 1943 steel penny worth?

Value of a 1943 Steel Penny

They are worth about 10 to 13 cents each in circulated condition, and as much as 50 cents or more if uncirculated.

What is a mule on a coin?

In numismatics, a mule is a coin or medal minted with obverse and reverse designs not normally seen on the same piece. … The name derives from the mule, the hybrid offspring of a horse and a donkey, due to such a coin having two sides intended for different coins, much as a mule has parents of two different species.

What is the rarest penny?

The Most Expensive Penny

The 1943 copper-alloy cent is one of the most enigmatic coins in American numismatics — and reportedly the most valuable Lincoln penny of all.

How much is a flying eagle penny worth?

Today, a circulated 1857 Flying Eagle penny grading is worth around $30, and uncirculated pieces are worth around $225 and up. As with all Flying Eagle pennies in the higher grades, be sure to purchase as a certified and authenticated variety, since counterfeits of these early small cents are growing.

What is a Broadstrike on a coin?

Definition of broadstrike

: an error occurring during the minting of a coin when the die collar (see collar entry 1 sense 2g) is loose or improperly positioned also : a coin having such an error … both sides bore characteristics of a broadstrike with the rim spread abnormally from the design. —

What is a coin lamination error?

What is a cud error on a coin?

A cud is a variation of a die defect in which the coin bears a raised portion of metal. Unlike a die break, this unintentional “bump” in the coin is caused by a dent or gouge in the die, therefore allowing the coin to fill into the gap during the minting process.

What is the error on a 1967 penny?