1946 U.S. Wheat Penny

1909 was the centennial of Abraham Lincoln’s birth. The U.S. government has been minting Lincoln-head one cent coins for circulation from then to present. Designed by Victor David Brenner until 1958, this coin’s original reverse depicted two stalks of wheat (shown). Then, from 1959-2008, an image of the Lincoln Memorial was struck on its reverse. In 2009 that was replaced by four commemorative designs marking the bicentennial of Lincoln’s birth. And, since 2010, this reverse design has depicted a Union shield. Until 1982 the U.S. Mint struck pennies in 95% copper, except for 1943. All 1946 pennies contain copper mixtures from ammunition shells recovered from the US military training grounds.