Jacek's Millennium Mint Proof Set
1C

Owner Comments:

It was a tough coin to acquire in the PF70 grade. Then I won 2 of them on E-Bay on the same day on 1/21/2007 :-). Population 1 of 300 with none graded higher by NGC and only 72 PR70 graded by PCGS as of 1/2007. Mintage: 5,503,200 (Proof coins: 3,082,483). The Lincoln cent was adopted in 1909, replacing the Indian head cent. It marked a radical departure from the accepted styling of the United States coinage, as it was the first regular coin to bear a portrait other than the mythical Liberty, which appeared on most pre-1909 regular coins - as a strong feeling had prevailed against using portraits on coins in the United States. However, the public sentiment stemming from the 100th anniversary celebration of Abraham Lincoln's birth proved stronger than the long-standing prejudice.The coin's obverse, featuring a bust of Abraham Lincoln was designed by Victor David Brenner (commissioned to this task by President Theodore Roosevelt}. Victor's initials can be found on the obverse of the coin in minute form on the rim, just under the shoulder of Lincoln.In addition to the prescribed elements on U.S. coins -- LIBERTY and the date --the motto In God We Trust appeared for the first time on the obverse of a coin of this denomination.The obverse has been in continuous usage, while its reverse was changed in 1959 to its current design which includes the Lincoln Memorial with the legends E Pluribus Unum and UNITED STATES OF AMERICA completing the design, together with the denomination. The initials "FG" appear on the right, near the shrubbery. They stand for Frank Gasparro who designed the reverse of the coin. The Lincoln cent coin contains 97.6% zinc and 2.4% copper and weights 2,50g (last modification in 1982 - the predominantly copper cent issued before 1982). Hence, the post-1982 pennies are much more susceptible to corrosion and pitting than those made prior to 1982. There are more one-cent coins produced than any other denomination.