Numismatic

1996 Lincoln Cent BU (Red)

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The 1996 Lincoln Cent represents a modern chapter in one of the most enduring coin series in United States history. Struck at the Philadelphia Mint, this particular coin displays a brilliant uncirculated finish with its original red luster intact. Although the coin is primarily composed of zinc (99.2 percent) with a thin outer coating of copper (0.8 percent), it retains the classic warm appearance of the traditional penny. It weighs precisely 2.5 grams. The obverse features the famous right-facing bust of Abraham Lincoln, a design created by Victor David Brenner. Clearly legible on this face are the inscriptions LIBERTY and IN GOD WE TRUST, alongside the 1996 date. Because it was minted in Philadelphia, it does not bear a mint mark. On the reverse, the Lincoln Memorial design by Frank Gasparro is showcased. This reverse design was used continuously from 1959 to 2008. The inscriptions surrounding the monument include UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, ONE CENT, and the traditional motto E PLURIBUS UNUM, completing a design that has been familiar to generations of Americans.