Numismatic

1985 Lincoln Cent BU (Red)

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The 1985 Lincoln cent represents a fascinating era in modern American minting. Struck with a composition of 99.2 percent zinc and a thin outer coating of 0.8 percent copper, this coin weighs exactly 2.5 grams. Collectors often examine these early zinc issues closely, as the copper plating process of this era frequently resulted in tiny raised dots or bubbling on the coin surfaces, making each surviving specimen unique in its texture and appearance. On the obverse, the familiar right-facing bust of Abraham Lincoln, originally created by Victor David Brenner, is accompanied by the legible inscriptions LIBERTY and IN GOD WE TRUST, alongside the 1985 date. The reverse features Frank Gasparro's detailed depiction of the Lincoln Memorial, a design that graced the one-cent piece from 1959 to 2008. This side is framed by the traditional inscriptions UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, ONE CENT, and the classic motto E PLURIBUS UNUM.