Numismatic

1974 Lincoln Cent BU (Red)

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The 1974 Lincoln Cent represents a classic era of American pocket change, preserved in a brilliant uncirculated state that showcases its original red copper luster. Struck at the Philadelphia Mint, this coin is composed of an alloy containing 95 percent copper, with the remaining 5 percent consisting of tin and zinc. This traditional metallic composition gives the coin its characteristic warmth and weight, which would later be altered in subsequent decades of penny production. On the obverse, the familiar right facing bust of Abraham Lincoln dominates the field. Designed by Victor David Brenner, this portrait is accompanied by the legible inscriptions LIBERTY and IN GOD WE TRUST, alongside the clear date of 1974. The absence of a mint mark below the date indicates its origin at the Philadelphia facility. The reverse features the Lincoln Memorial design created by Frank Gasparro, which graced the penny continuously from 1959 to 2008. A close look reveals the detailed columns of the monument, framed by the inscriptions UNITED STATES OF AMERICA and ONE CENT. The traditional Latin motto E PLURIBUS UNUM is also clearly visible above the memorial dome, completing a design that billions of people recognized in daily commerce for half a century.