What was your first reaction to the new Lincoln memorial cents when they were released into circulation in 1959?
At that time I had been collecting for about 10 years. I was in High School and had a lot of friends that were collectors. We had an informal coin club that would get together to trade coins. We were all disappointed and thought it was a mistake by the mint. We were sure that the new coin would put heat on the wheat cents and make them more difficult to find. Well, it did do that, but, it took a long time. After some time we found that new opportunities opened with errors and variations. Early on the 1959-D Cracked Skull showed up and gave us a new focus. See attached photo.
IF I had a reaction I don't remember it. That was the year I graduated from high school and it was a lull time for me and coin collecting. If anything, I was into stamps.
At 12 years old I remember looking forward to the Memorial design being released having visited the Lincoln Memorial in DC few years before. That visit sparked a lifelong interest in all things Lincoln.
Given that I wasn't born until several years later, my first reaction was probably to try to put them in my mouth.
I read about the new cents in “The Weekly Reader,” which was a weekly elementary school newspaper. At this time, just before I got my first Red Book and cent folders, I saved every one of them I got in circulation.
Hey, look on the bright side. At least we could stick them in our mouths and our mothers/fathers only really had to worry about chocking. Today’s parents have much more to fret over. Upon further thought, perhaps this explains much.....
I loved the Weekly Reader. There was another kid's magazine back then that I liked. I can't remember the name. I think it started with an S. I see it in Doctor's and Dentist's offices when I take the grandkids.
Highlights! My daughter would be very embarrassed to admit how old she was when she was finally willing to give that up.
And for us younger numismatists, what was your reaction when you found out there was a penny other than a memorial, with "one cent" struck on the back?
I didn't like it much. I sure didn't hate it but it seemed a little staid and plain to me. It did grow on me over the years and now I do like it a little.
I was born 1959 so I have no memory of the change in design. However the year made an easy line of demarcation for me as a young collector. Any coin dated prior to 1959 was an immediate keeper for me.
I was not alive for the memorial cents but when the shield cents came out I thought they were dumb, I still do. I don't like that they are so worthless and garbage. Like why not get rid of the penny and use that money for NASA or something.
Sometime in 1959 before June I was at my elementary school and found one in my pocket change. It was noticeably different from the other cents.
Same thing happened to me in 1st grade when the new shield cents came out. I suppose some experiences are the same no matter the era. :>
As a young collector, I found it neat that the cent had two different reverses. Today’s reverse needs to go into the Mississippi River with concrete overshoes.
Caught the bug just about then. Memorials were never much interest to me. Looked through the cash register at my parents service station/shop. Searched bank rolls by 1961. Those were the days