The obverse of the coin features a bust en-profile of the 16th President of the United States. The president is facing to the right from the viewers point of view. Above the portrait is the motto "IN GOD WE TRUST." Appearing to the left of Lincoln is the word "LIBERTY" and to the right are the year and mint mark.
The reverse design features a pair of wheat stalks, with the denomination "ONE CENT" and "UNITED STATES OF AMERICA" encompassed within the stalks. Above the denomination are the Latin words "E PLURIBUS UNUM".
The 1943 Steel Cent was created due of a shortage of copper caused by World War II. The Mint resorted to composition of zinc plated steel rather than the existing composition of 95% copper. The resulting coins were lighter than the prior composition, weighing in at 2.70 grams compared to the prior 3.11 grams. Collectors sometimes refer to these Steel Cents as "steelies".
Mintage:
| Philadelphia | Denver | San Francisco |
| 684,628,670 | 217,660,000 | 191,550,000 |