Interesting Facts about Pennies Pennies have been around for more than 200 years. The penny was created in 1787, designed by Benjamin Franklin. The first penny was 100% copper and Paul Revere supplied some of the copper to make the first pennies. Now the penny is just 2.4% copper and 97.6% zinc. Here are some other kinds of pennies to look for: 1793 Lady Liberty. Large coin. Only 4 known to exist, worth $275,000! 1856-1858 The Flying Eagle cent 1859-1908 Indian Head penny 1909-2016 Lincoln penny (introduced on 100th anniversary of Lincoln’s birth) First coin with a president (and the only president who faces right) First coin with the words “In God We Trust” 1909-1958 Wheat penny (image on the back) 1959-2008 Lincoln Memorial (added in honor of Lincoln’s 150th birthday) 2009 Lincoln’s 200th birthday (4 images on backs of pennies): -Childhood in Kentucky (1809-1816) -Youth and young adulthood in Indiana (1816-1830) -Professional life in Illinois (1830-1860) -Presidency in Washington, DC (1861-1865) 2010-2016 Union Shield on the back Look at some pennies. What year were they minted (made)? Most pennies are made in Denver and Philadelphia. Some are made in San Francisco. If there is no mint mark, the penny was probably made in Philadelphia. Where was your penny minted? Look at the front of a penny. “D” stands for Denver, “P” for Philadelphia and “S” for San Francisco. Can you find the name of our country, “United States of America”? Can you find the national motto, “E Pluribus Unum?” This is Latin for “out of the many, one.” It refers to the idea that there are many states but one country. Can you find “In God We Trust”? It first appeared in 1909, on the Lincoln penny. How much does it cost to make a penny? The government has to keep track of how much money it costs to make coins. As of 2014, it actually costs more than one cent to make a penny. It costs 1.7₵ to make a penny and 8₵ to make a nickel. It costs 3.9₵ to make a dime, and 9₵ to make a quarter! About the Lincoln Memorial pennies: Frank Gasparro, the designer, put his initials on the back of the penny, to the right of the shrubbery. Can you find his initials “FG” ? Do you see Abraham Lincoln sitting inside the Lincoln Memorial? Expressions about Pennies A penny for your thoughts (What are you thinking about?) Don’t be a penny-pincher. (Don’t be stingy!) Put your two cents in. (Give your opinion.) I won’t give you one red cent! (I won’t contribute anything!) Pennies from heaven (small blessings) Penniless (Not a penny to your name; very poor.) Penny arcade (Did the games ever cost just one penny?) A penny saved is a penny earned. (Save your money!-Ben Franklin) Clean your pennies! Try white vinegar and salt! .