Hahaha is this actually the reason or just irony, I am going with option B but I hope our government doesn't make these types of decisions based on politics.
Oh no ,it's getting political already. Actually I don't know but when the Lincoln cent was designed it was during the time of the Barber designs and they were facing right also. The Morgans and Liberty nickels were the only ones facing left.
After looking for pics of Lincoln, I believe the profile was created by viewing a frontal left pic of Lincoln submitted with his biography in Harper's Weekly. Of course, that profile could have faced either way I guess with a simple reversal of the original plaster mold.
I heard that Lincoln himself liked his right side profile. He wasn't a good looking man (thin and gaunt) and just preferred his right profile to his left. Bruce
Here is a theory. When the sculptor entered his work in the contest for a new coin design to feature Lincoln his plaque had Lincoln facing to the right. Here is a copy of the work Brenner submitted. Brenner never had the opportunity for Lincoln to pose for this work, so he based his sculpture on a photograph. btw This item just sold last weekend on eBay for $2,009
This is a pretty ironic number considering the year 2009 is the 200th anniversary of Lincoln's birth!
Yep, simple answer is the plaque the design of the cent was based on, and the photo of Lincoln the plaque was based on both show Lincoln facing right. It isn't surprising the cent faces right. The next two Presidential portrait coins issued, the nickel and quarter, required the Houdin busts be used for the design source. At the time the bust were displayed in such a way that they were only well lit if viewed facing left. The Kennedy half was based on his Inaugural medal on which Kennedy faced left. The Portrait of Susan B Anthony was based on a photo of her, and in that photo she faced right. So for the most part it all depends on what is used as the source for the design. That isn't true in the US, but that IS the tradition in the UK. The portrait reverses direction with each change of the Monarch. The only time they have had a break in that tradition since at least 1700 was in 1937. Edward VIII's portrait should have faced right. But the new King felt his left profile was more flattering and he insisted on a left facing portrait. Designs were created, dies made and some test pieces struck before the King abdicated. When George VI then came to the thrown he coinage was made with the portrait facing left as if Edward VIII's had followed tradition. This is why in actual circulation coins we have George V coins immediately followed by George VI coins with the portraits facing left on both.
