Lincoln Cent Memorial Reverse Design Modifications In the course of its 50-year history the Lincoln Cent Memorial Reverse has seen numerous design modifications resulting in seven different design varieties. All the following links to coin photos are courtesy of coinpage.com. The memorial design was first used in 1959 to commemorate the 150th anniversary of the birth of Abraham Lincoln and the 50th anniversary of the Lincoln cent. This first design was used for both circulation and proof coinage through 1968. The Original 1959 Memorial Reverse Cent In 1969 the mint modified the design by slightly enlarging the designer's initials. This second design was used for both circulation and proof coinage from the years 1969 through 1972. 1970-S Memorial Cent w/larger Designer's Initials (1969-1972) In 1973 the mint created a third design by again by greatly enlarging the designer's initials. Only Lincoln cents dated 1973 carry this third design. 1973 Memorial Reverse Cent: In 1974 the mint reduced the size of the designer's initials. This fourth design was used from 1974 through 1985 for both circulation and proof coinage. 1974 Aluminum Memorial Reverse Lincoln Cent (Fourth Design)1974-1985 1974 Bronze Memorial Lincoln Cent 1974-1985 In 1986 the mint modified the designer's initials again, creating a fifth design. This design was short lived, lasting only through 1988 (coastcoin.com photo). 1986 Memorial Reverse Lincoln Cent 1986-1988 In 1989 the mint again modified the design, by changing the font on the designer's initials. This sixth design was used for both circulation and proof coinage through 1992 (coastcoin/com photo). Reverse Memorial Lincoln Cent (Sixth Design) 1989-1992 1993 saw a seventh design double-change placed into production. This double-change design resulted in reducing the spacing between the AM of AMERICA and another change in the font of the designer's initials. This design was used for both circulation and proof coinage for 1993 (US Mint photo). 1993 Memorial Reverse w/two changes However, in 1994 the mint reverted back to design six for proof coinage. Thus for the first time two memorial reverse designs were used in the same year. Both photos courtesy of coastcoin.com. 1994 Circulation Memorial Reverse Cent 1994-S Proof Memorial Reverse Cent Recently a proof style reverse was discovered on a 2000 circulation strike coin. Further research has turned up circulation strike occurrences of design for the years 1988, 1998 and 1999. It is currently not known why this has occurred or if the years 1994 through 1997 are affected as well. None have turned up on Denver issues, though recent discoveries have seen cents from 1992 (unconfirmed by CONECA) and 1992-D with a design seven reverse. Also now known are 1998-S and 1999-S proof cents with design seven reverses. Thought you should know... Clinker
i learned something new today. i knew there were some changes to the design, but not that many. thanks clinker!
