Of Course, you know the very first cents were minted in 1793. There were two main reverses: (1) 36,103 featured a chain on the reverse and are referred to as Chain Reverse Large Cents. (2) 63,353 featured a wreath on their reverses and are referred to as Wreath Reverse Large Cents. Here's photos of the two coins courtesy of Coin Auctions (coinauctionshelp.com): http://coinauctionshelp.com/Flowing%20Hair%20Large%20Cent.html So the first US Cent without a wreath on its reverse is the 1793 Chain Reverse Large Cent. What was the next US Cent without a wreath? The 1959 Lincoln Head Cent which features Frank Gasparro's rendition of the Lincoln Monument on its reverse. (coinpage.com photo): http://www.coinpage.com/coin-image-3889.html "Whoa!" you are thinking, "What about the 1909 Lincoln Head Cent with the Wheat Heads reverse?" Take a look at the 1909 Lincoln Head Cent with those two Wheat Heads. (coinpage.com photo): http://www.coinpage.com/coin-image-2505.html You see, Victor David Brenner curved them to form a wreath. All cents struck beginning in 1959 through 2008 feature the Lincoln Memorial on their reverses. The next change on the Lincoln Head Cent's reverse occurred in 2009 as a bicentennial commemorative of President Lincoln's birth and the 100th anniversary of the Lincoln Head Cent. Four different reverses were produced in 2009 without bearing a wreath (worldcoingallery.com photos): Log Cabin Reverse: http://worldcoingallery.com/countries/display_wd.php?dir=img16&image=us-1c09a&desc=USAnew1cent(2009)LogCabin&query=USA Young Lincoln Reverse: http://worldcoingallery.com/countries/display_wd.php?dir=img16&image=us-1c09b&desc=USAnew1cent(2009)YoungLincoln&query=USA Statesman Lincoln Reverse: http://worldcoingallery.com/countries/display_wd.php?dir=img16&image=us-1c09c&desc=USAnew1cent(2009)StatesmanLincoln&query=USA Lincoln Presidency Reverse: http://worldcoingallery.com/countries/display_wd.php?dir=img17&image=us-1c09d&desc=USAnew1cent(2009)LincolnPresidency&query=USA The next change came in 2010 and exists to date (Shield Reverse) (coinpage.com photo): http://www.coinpage.com/coin-image-8956.html Hope you enjoyed this little detour into America's One Cent history... Clinker
