NGC MS 21st Century Type Set
1C LINCOLN UNION SHIELD (2010-DATE)

Owner Comments:

The 2010 Lincoln Cent represents the debut a brand new reverse design for the long running series. This marks 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 features the Union Shield.

The Union Shield features thirteen vertical stripes joined by a single horizontal bar with the inscription “E Pluribus Unum” (Out of many, one). This symbolizes the original thirteen states joined together in a single 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 had authorized the four different different designs issued for 2009 had also authorized the new reverse design for 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 US Mint on November 12, 2009.