One Cent 2003 Lincoln Memorial, Coin from United States - detailed information

The United States one-cent coin (often called a penny, from the British coin of the same name) is a unit of currency equalling one-hundredth of a United States dollar. The cent's symbol is ¢. It has been the lowest-value physical unit of U.S. currency since the abolition of the half-cent in 1857.

The earliest one cent coins were large and made of copper. Their designs changed relatively often; there were three different types in 1793 alone, the Flowing Hair / Chain Cent, the Flowing Hair / Wreath Cent and the Liberty Cap Cent - the latter issued until 1796, after which came the Draped Bust type (1796 to 1807), the so-called Classic Head Cent (1808 to 1814) and the Coronet Cent, also known as Liberty Head (1816 to 1857).

When a large copper coin became impractical, an alternative was sought. The Flying Eagle cent was a transitional smaller type, struck between 1856 and 1858 in copper-nickel. This design was short-lived and was replaced by the the Indian Head type in 1859 - initially also in copper-nickel until 1864, then bronze.

In 1909, the Lincoln Cent was introduced to mark the centenary of the birth of Abraham Lincoln, the 16th president of the United States. This was the first time when an actual person (and not an abstract symbol such as Liberty) was depicted on American coins. The obverse of the coin shows a portrait of Abraham Lincoln by Victor David Brenner.

The original reverse showed the value surrounded by wheat stalks. It was superseded in 1959, when the Lincoln Memorial design was introduced to mark 150 years since Lincoln's birth. This second design was issued to 2008, in bronze until 1982 then in copper-plated zinc. 2009 was marked by the introduction of a new design for the denomination.

One Cent coins issued in 2003 have now been in circulation for 21 years.