Numismatic

1922 Lincoln Cent VF (Strong Reverse, no D)

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In 1922, the Denver Mint was the sole facility producing one cent coins for the United States, as the Philadelphia Mint did not strike any pennies that year. Yet, a fascinating anomaly occurred during this production run. Due to the use of heavily polished dies, some of these copper coins emerged completely lacking the expected 'D' mint mark, creating an intriguing puzzle for observers of American coinage. This specific copper cent, graded in Very Fine condition, is known as the 'Strong Reverse' variety. While the obverse die was worn down to the point of losing its mint mark entirely, the reverse die remained remarkably crisp. This contrast means the two wheat ears flanking the denomination on the reverse stand out with impressive clarity, offering a vivid look at the detailed work of designer Victor Brenner. The obverse displays the familiar portrait of Abraham Lincoln, accompanied by the inscriptions 'LIBERTY' and the date '1922'. The reverse side features the classic wheat ears framing the words 'ONE CENT' and 'UNITED STATES OF AMERICA', topped by the traditional motto 'E PLURIBUS UNUM'. It is a compelling example of how minting variations can turn a common circulating denomination into an extraordinary object of study.