Penny (United States coin) Facts for Kids

The United States one-cent coin, often called the penny, is a small coin used in the United States. It's worth one-hundredth of a United States dollar, which means 100 pennies make one dollar. The special symbol for a cent is ¢. The front of the penny has shown the face of President Abraham Lincoln since 1909. This was 100 years after he was born. The back of the penny has shown the Union Shield since 2010. The official name for this coin from the United States Mint is "cent."

What is a Penny?
History of the Penny's Design
Images for kids
See also

What is a Penny?

A penny is a very common coin in the U.S. It's part of the country's currency, which is the money people use every day. Even though it's the lowest value coin, it has a long and interesting history. Pennies are used for small purchases and are often collected by people who enjoy coin collecting.

History of the Penny's Design

The penny has changed its look many times over the years. Before President Lincoln appeared on the coin, there were other designs.

Early Penny Designs

Liberty Cap Cent (1793-1796): One of the first pennies showed a picture of Lady Liberty wearing a cap. This cap was a symbol of freedom.
Classic Head Cent (1808-1814): This design featured a different image of Lady Liberty with a classic hairstyle.
Braided Hair Large Cent (1839-1857): For many years, pennies were larger than they are today. This design showed Lady Liberty with braided hair.

Smaller Pennies Appear

Flying Eagle Cent (1856-1858): The penny became smaller in 1856. This new, smaller coin had a picture of an eagle flying.
Indian Head Cent (1859-1909): After the Flying Eagle, the Indian Head penny became popular. It showed Lady Liberty wearing a Native American headdress. This design lasted for many years.

The Lincoln Penny Era

In 1909, the penny changed again to honor Abraham Lincoln. He was a very important president during the American Civil War.

Lincoln's Front Side

The front of the penny, called the obverse, has shown Abraham Lincoln's profile since 1909. This was the first time a real person, not a symbol, appeared on a U.S. coin. The design was created by Victor David Brenner.

Back Side Designs

The back of the Lincoln penny, called the reverse, has had a few different designs:

Wheat Cent (1909-1958): For nearly 50 years, the back of the penny showed two stalks of wheat. This is why these pennies are often called "wheat cents."
Lincoln Memorial (1959-2008): To celebrate 150 years since Lincoln's birth, the back of the penny changed to show the Lincoln Memorial building in Washington, D.C.
Bicentennial Designs (2009): In 2009, four special designs were made to celebrate Lincoln's 200th birthday. Each design showed a different part of his life.
Union Shield (2010-Present): Since 2010, the back of the penny has shown the Union Shield. This shield is a symbol of unity and strength for the United States.

Images for kids

A collection of Lincoln cents from 1941 to 1974. Nearly complete set in a folder. Also features two error coins.
Detail of reverse showing Lincoln statue inside the memorial
Liberty Cap cent, 1794
Classic Head cent, 1811
Braided Hair large cent, 1850
Flying Eagle small cent, 1858
Indian Head cent, 1859
A 1937 Wheat cent
Lincoln cent with cameo effect, obverse
Obverse side of a cent after 17 years of circulation