Numismatic

1997-S Lincoln Cent Gem Proof (Red)

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The 1997-S Lincoln Cent stands as a striking example of modern American proof coinage. Struck at the San Francisco Mint, this coin features a brilliant, mirror-like finish that highlights the sharp details of its design. Unlike standard circulating pennies of its era, this proof edition is composed of a traditional alloy containing 95 percent copper, with the remaining 5 percent consisting of tin and zinc. On the obverse, the familiar right-facing profile of Abraham Lincoln, originally created by designer Victor David Brenner, takes center stage. The crisp strike of the San Francisco Mint is evident in the sharp rendering of the portrait and the accompanying inscriptions, which include the word LIBERTY to the left of the bust, the motto IN GOD WE TRUST curving along the top rim, and the 1997 date positioned above the S mint mark. The reverse displays the Lincoln Memorial, a design by Frank Gasparro that graced the reverse of the penny from 1959 to 2008. The detailed columns of the monument are framed by the inscriptions UNITED STATES OF AMERICA and ONE CENT, with the traditional motto E PLURIBUS UNUM nestled directly above the building.