One Cent ($0.01)

Lincoln Bicentennial / Union Shield Cent

USA - United States Mint · 2010 to Present

A copper-colored modern US penny featuring a Union Shield on the reverse and Abraham Lincoln on the obverse.

Country: USA - United States Mint
Year: 2010 to Present
Denomination: One Cent ($0.01)
Metal: Copper-Plated Zinc (97.5% Zinc, 2.5% Copper)
Grade: Uncirculated (As labeled by Littleton: MS-60/Uncirculated)

This report is AI-generated and can be wrong. Always verify grade, authenticity, and value with a qualified dealer or certified grading service before buying, selling, or insuring.

Identified April 26, 2026More usa - united states mint coins →

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Overview

A copper-colored modern US penny featuring a Union Shield on the reverse and Abraham Lincoln on the obverse.

Historical significance

Introduced in 2010 to replace the four rotating 2009 Bicentennial designs. The Union Shield design represents President Lincoln's preservation of the United States as a single united country.

Obverse (front)

Portrait of Abraham Lincoln facing right, originally designed by Victor David Brenner in 1909. Legends: IN GOD WE TRUST, LIBERTY, and the date.

Reverse (back)

A Union Shield with 13 vertical stripes and a horizontal bar. A scroll draped across the shield reads E PLURIBUS UNUM. Legend: UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, ONE CENT. Designer: Lyndall Bass.

Estimated value

$0.01 - $0.50 for standard uncirculated business strikes; higher for high-grade MS-67+ specimens.

What drives this coin's value

Condition/Grade is the primary factor. Because billions are made, only perfect specimens (MS-68 or higher) or specific mint errors command high premiums.

Grade assessment

Uncirculated (As labeled by Littleton: MS-60/Uncirculated)

Mintage & rarity

Common; billions produced annually.

Authenticity & counterfeit red flags

Weight should be exactly 2.5 grams. Counterfeits are unlikely due to the low face value, but strike quality and luster should be consistent with government production.

Notable varieties & errors

Look for 'Shield' doubled die reverses or extreme plating blisters often mistaken for errors.

Similar coins

2009 Bicentennial Cents (Log Cabin, Formative Years, etc.) and pre-2009 Memorial Cents.

Care & preservation

Keep in the protective Littleton Coin Co. flip shown to prevent zinc rot or fingerprint corrosion. Handle by the edges only.

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