Copper-plated zinc coin, 2022 Lincoln Shield Cent, United States Mint

The Lincoln Cent was first introduced in 1909 to commemorate the 100th anniversary of Abraham Lincoln's birth, making it the longest-running design in U.S. Mint history. In 2010, the reverse design was changed from the Lincoln Memorial to the Union Shield, symbolizing Lincoln's preservation of the United States as a single country. The modern Lincoln Shield Cent is composed of a zinc core with a thin copper plating, a composition adopted in 1982 to reduce production costs as copper prices rose. Lincoln Cents are widely collected by numismatists, particularly those interested in American coinage, error coins, and completing date and mint mark sets. This 2022 example represents current U.S. circulation coinage and appeals to beginning collectors, those assembling modern date sets, and educators teaching about American currency and history. While common in circulation, well-preserved examples and error varieties can command premium prices among dedicated penny collectors.