Wheat vs. Memorial vs. Shield Reverse: Dating Lincoln Cents at a Glance

Identifying Lincoln Cent Reverse Types

The Lincoln cent has used four major reverse designs since its introduction in 1909. Even when the date is worn away, you can narrow down a cent's era just by looking at the back. Here's how to identify each reverse type and what it tells you about the coin.

Wheat Reverse (1909-1958)

The original reverse designed by Victor David Brenner features two wheat ears (or wheat stalks) flanking the words ONE CENT and UNITED STATES OF AMERICA. These coins are commonly called "wheat pennies" or "wheaties."

• Years: 1909-1958 (all 50 years of production)
• Composition: Bronze (95% Cu, 5% Sn/Zn) except 1943 (zinc-coated steel)
• Key dates: 1909-S VDB, 1914-D, 1922 No D, 1931-S, 1955 DDO
• Collector tip: Any wheat cent is worth more than face value — minimum 3-5 cents each in bulk, with key dates and high-grade examples worth much more

Lincoln Memorial Reverse (1959-2008)

Designed by Frank Gasparro, the Memorial reverse shows the Lincoln Memorial in Washington, D.C. A tiny figure of Abraham Lincoln is visible inside the Memorial (look between the center columns under magnification).

• Years: 1959-2008 (50 years, matching the Wheat cent's run)
• Composition: Bronze (1959-1982), zinc with copper plating (1982-2008)
• Key varieties: Close AM/Wide AM (1992, 1998-2000), 1972 DDO, 1983 DDR, 1995 DDO
• Collector tip: Pre-1982 copper Memorial cents are worth about 2 cents each for their metal content. Post-1982 zinc cents are generally face value unless they're errors or varieties.

2009 Bicentennial Reverses (One Year Only)

For 2009 (Lincoln's 200th birthday), the Mint produced four different reverse designs representing stages of Lincoln's life:

1. Birth and Early Childhood — Log cabin (Kentucky)
2. Formative Years — Young Lincoln reading on a log (Indiana)
3. Professional Life — Lincoln standing before the Illinois State Capitol
4. Presidency — The partially completed U.S. Capitol dome

These transitional-year cents are collectible as a set but remain affordable.

Shield Reverse (2010-Present)

Designed by Lyndall Bass, the current reverse features a Union Shield with a horizontal banner across the center inscribed ONE CENT. The 13 vertical stripes represent the original states, and E PLURIBUS UNUM appears at the top.

• Years: 2010-present
• Composition: Copper-plated zinc (2.5 grams)
• Collector tip: Shield cents are modern and common in circulation. Error hunting is the primary collector interest for these dates.