Lincoln Memorial (1959-2008)

1959 was the 50th anniversary of the Lincoln Cent, high time to make a design change. The front of the coin was left alone, but the reverse was changed from the old "Wheat Ears" design to a frontal view of the Lincoln Memorial. As a result, Lincoln appears twice on the new Cent: once on the obverse and second time as a tiny figure seated in the center of his Memorial (remember this, as it is the answer to a popular numismatic trivia question).

The composition was changed to copper and zinc for coins minted 1959 - 1982, with the weight being 3.11 grams and the diameter being 19 mm with a plain edge. In 1982, the composition was changed to copper-plated zinc with the weight changing to 2.5 grams. This is the same composition used today. The older, bronze pieces are currently in demand because the value of the copper comes close to, or exceeds, the face value.