Read the passage. Then answer the question below.

A Short History of the Lincoln Penny

Few objects are more common than the Lincoln penny. On any given day, you probably have a few in your pocket or purse. The typical household in the United States has hundreds of pennies squirreled away in piggy banks, jars, and drawers. Everyone is familiar with the penny, but few people ever look at it closely or know much about its history.

When the Lincoln penny made its appearance in 1909, it was the first American coin to show the portrait of a historical person. A few coins, such as the Indian Head penny and the Buffalo nickel, had portrayed anonymous Native Americans. Americans, however, had always opposed using coins to honor historical figures. The strong desire to celebrate Abraham Lincoln’s 100th birthday overcame this sentiment.

Victor D. Brenner, a Chicago sculptor, contributed the design for the Lincoln penny. His simple, somewhat stark portrait of Lincoln was topped with the words, “In God We Trust.” This was the first time these words appeared on a penny. The word “Liberty,” as mandated by a law passed by Congress, appears to the left of Lincoln, and the date is on his right. Brenner’s initials—VDB—appeared under the date on the first coins. After the coin was released, however, Americans complained that the initials were too large and detracted from the overall design of the penny. So the U.S. Mint removed the initials. As a result, pennies made in 1909 are highly prized by rare coin collectors. In 1918, the initials were added again, but were much smaller.

When the United States entered World War II in 1941, the penny was composed of 95 percent copper and 5 percent tin and zinc. These metals were also necessary for the manufacture of airplanes, ships, and shell casings for large field guns. As metal supplies dwindled, the U.S. Mint decided to use steel for its 1943 pennies. A record number of steel pennies—more than a billion—were minted. Made of steel with a thin zinc coating, these shiny pennies quickly turned a dull gray-black. In 1944, the production of steel pennies was halted. By that time, enough empty shell casings from the war effort were available. These casings, when melted down, provided a mixture of copper and tin appropriate for making pennies.

The year 1959 was the 150th anniversary of Lincoln’s birth. The U.S. Mint decided to mark the occasion with a change to the Lincoln penny. The wheat stalk design on the reverse side of the penny was discontinued. To replace it, U.S. Mint engraver Frank Gasparro completed a new design showing the Lincoln Memorial in Washington, D.C. Close inspection of the design shows the statue of Lincoln inside the Memorial. So, the sixteenth president is now visible on both sides of the coin.

The composition of the penny has changed two more times since 1959. In 1962, U.S. Mint officials realized that it would be cheaper to manufacture pennies using zinc, instead of tin, with copper. Technically, this meant that the penny, which had been bronze, became brass. However, there was no noticeable change in the appearance of the coin. In 1982, the fast-rising price of copper forced the U.S. Mint to change the composition of the penny to primarily zinc, with pure copper plating. This change allowed the “copper” penny to retain its traditional appearance.

Since more than a billion of them are minted every year, Lincoln pennies have limited appeal for collectors. However, coin collectors are always on the lookout for Lincoln pennies with errors. From time to time, the U.S. Mint makes mistakes when producing coins. Double die errors are most common. These errors occur when the die, a tool used to stamp out pennies, hits a coin twice. Often an entire batch of coins is affected. In 1955, one of these errors resulted in the doubling of Lincoln’s image. In 1985 and 1995, errors doubled the lettering on the penny’s reverse side. Coins with such errors become more valuable over time, and collectors eagerly search for them.

For almost 100 years, the Lincoln penny has served the nation. That time span is longer than any other coin. In recent years, however, many Americans have suggested that the United States stop minting pennies. Some bankers and merchants claim that the low-value coins are little more than an annoyance in today’s economy. Rather than using pennies, Americans tend to hoard them, forcing the government to mint more. In time, the cost of the familiar pennies may become prohibitive. Thus, the future of the familiar penny, long a sentimental favorite, is by no means certain. Write an essay explaining the reasons for changes made to the Lincoln penny. Use evidence from the passage to support your response.