What Was Your First Reaction To The Lincoln Memorial Cents

Discussion in 'Coin Chat' started by 1948 Edward, Apr 4, 2019.

  1. 1948 Edward

    1948 Edward Member

    What was your first reaction to the new Lincoln memorial cents when they were released into circulation in 1959?
     
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  3. ldhair

    ldhair Clean Supporter

    Fun question. I was too young to remember it.
     
  4. Inspector43

    Inspector43 Celebrating 75 Years Active Collecting Supporter

    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. 1959 D Cracked Skull #1.jpg
     
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  5. kanga

    kanga 65 Year Collector

    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.
     
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  6. PennyGuy

    PennyGuy US and CDN Copper

    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.
     
  7. -jeffB

    -jeffB Greshams LEO Supporter

    Given that I wasn't born until several years later, my first reaction was probably to try to put them in my mouth. :rolleyes:
     
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  8. johnmilton

    johnmilton Well-Known Member

    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.
     
  9. BooksB4Coins

    BooksB4Coins Newbieus Sempiterna

    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..... ;)
     
  10. Hookman

    Hookman Well-Known Member

    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.
     
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  11. -jeffB

    -jeffB Greshams LEO Supporter

    Highlights! My daughter would be very embarrassed to admit how old she was when she was finally willing to give that up.
     
  12. Gilbert

    Gilbert Part time collector Supporter

    I did not like the new design, but compared to some of the mint’s present offerings it’s not bad.
     
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  13. johnmilton

    johnmilton Well-Known Member

    Was it "Scholastic?" That was the magazine we got in junior high school.
     
  14. NumisNinja

    NumisNinja Active Member

    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?
     
  15. cladking

    cladking Coin Collector

    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.
     
  16. Randy Abercrombie

    Randy Abercrombie Supporter! Supporter

    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.
     
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  17. BoonTheGoon

    BoonTheGoon Grade A mad lad

    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.
     
  18. willieboyd2

    willieboyd2 First Class Poster

    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.

    :)
     
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  19. BoonTheGoon

    BoonTheGoon Grade A mad lad

    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. :>
     
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  20. Santinidollar

    Santinidollar Supporter! Supporter

    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.
     
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  21. Heavymetal

    Heavymetal Well-Known Member

    E1A032CF-DD65-4360-A236-A15C43B43FAD.jpeg F75D30F5-B972-45D3-A847-C0523AEBAD3C.jpeg 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
     
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