2001–2008: Lincoln Memorial Cent (Copper-Plated Zinc Composition)

Lincoln Memorial Cent copper-plated zinc obverse and reverse

Coin specifications and design

Years made: 2001-2008

Country: United States

Denomination: One cent

Category: Circulating coin

Composition: Copper-plated zinc: 97.5% zinc, 2.5% copper overall

Silver fineness: None

Silver weight: 0.00 oz ASW

Weight: 2.50 g

Diameter: 19.05 mm

Thickness: 1.52 mm

Edge: Plain

Designer: Victor David Brenner obverse; Frank Gasparro reverse

Design identification

Obverse: Abraham Lincoln portrait.

2001–2008: Lincoln Memorial Cent (Copper-Plated Zinc Composition) history

The final Lincoln Memorial cents were struck from 2001 through 2008 on the copper-plated zinc standard introduced during 1982. Frank Gasparro's Memorial reverse ended after fifty years of use.

Four Bicentennial reverses replaced it for 2009, followed by the Union Shield in 2010. The 2.50-gram weight, date, mintmark, and Memorial design identify this closing subtype.

2001–2008 Memorial cent notes

These final Memorial cents retain the 2.50-gram copper-plated zinc planchet and Frank Gasparro reverse. The subtype ends in 2008; four one-year Bicentennial reverses replaced it for 2009.

Production characteristics: Plating blisters, exposed zinc, streaked copper color, and weak Memorial detail are recurring manufacturing and preservation issues. These effects should be separated from true doubled dies and other hub or die varieties.

Attribution scope: Date, mint mark, reverse-hub details, and documented die markers remain the basis for variety attribution. Generic "extra" lines in the Memorial or lettering are frequently plating disturbance, die deterioration, or contact damage.