The 1959 Lincoln Memorial Cent marked a significant shift in U.S. coinage as the Lincoln Wheat Cent entered its 50th year of production. This milestone also coincided with the sesquicentennial of Abraham Lincoln’s birth, prompting the U.S. Treasury Department to redesign the reverse side of the cent to honor the occasion.
A New Design for the Lincoln Cent
Since the Lincoln cent’s introduction in 1909, its reverse had featured two curved wheat stalks and the inscriptions E Pluribus Unum and United States of America. However, in 1959, the design was changed to feature the Lincoln Memorial, a monument dedicated to the 16th president’s legacy. This change was officially announced on December 21, 1958, when President Dwight D. Eisenhower approved the redesign. The new reverse design was crafted by Frank Gasparro, an Assistant Engraver at the Philadelphia Mint, and was selected by Treasury Secretary Robert B. Anderson and Mint Director William H. Brett.
About the Lincoln Memorial
The Lincoln Memorial, completed in 1922, is a national monument honoring the legacy of President Abraham Lincoln. Built in the style of a Greek temple, it features 36 Doric columns, representing the states of the Union at the time of Lincoln’s death. Inside the monument stands a 60-foot statue of Lincoln, sculpted by Daniel Chester French.
Frank Gasparro’s New Design
Gasparro’s design for the reverse of the 1959 Lincoln cent replaced the original wheat stalks with a detailed depiction of the Lincoln Memorial. Gasparro’s initials, “FG,” can be found on the lower-right side of the memorial. The inscriptions “ONE CENT” appear along the bottom rim, with “UNITED STATES OF AMERICA” above, and “E PLURIBUS UNUM” between the top of the memorial and the top inscription.
Gasparro’s design would become iconic, and he would later go on to become the Chief Engraver of the U.S. Mint in 1965.
The 1959 Lincoln Memorial Cent in the Market
The 1959 Lincoln Memorial Cent is widely collected and remains abundant in Mint State Red condition. However, Gem-quality specimens are rare and can command significant premiums. For example, in recent years, original bank-wrapped rolls of the 1959 cent have been sold for as much as $20 on platforms like eBay. Top-quality examples such as those graded PCGS MS67+RD have been auctioned for upwards of $4,320.
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Key Specifications of the 1959 Lincoln Memorial Cent:
- Country: United States of America
- Year of Issue: 1959
- Denomination: One Cent (USD)
- Mintmark: None (Philadelphia)
- Mintage: 609,715,000
- Alloy: 95% Copper, 5% Tin and Zinc
- Weight: 3.11 g
- Diameter: 19.05 mm
- Edge: Plain
- Obverse Designer: Victor David Brenner
- Reverse Designer: Frank Gasparro
The 1959 Lincoln Memorial Cent remains a significant piece in the history of U.S. coinage, marking a transformation that celebrated both a presidential legacy and a major milestone in the nation’s history.
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