United States · One Cent · 1909–1958
| Country | United States (United States Mint) |
| Denomination | One Cent |
| Years struck | 1909–1958 |
| Gross weight | 3.11 g |
| Composition | 95.0% copper, 5.0% zinc |
| Diameter | 19.05 mm |
| Thickness | 1.55 mm |
| Edge | Plain |
| Designer | Victor David Brenner |
The Lincoln wheat cent (1909–1958) is 95% copper bronze. Its copper melt value exceeds one cent, and the series contains some of the most famous key dates in American collecting, led by the 1909-S VDB.
Issued for the centennial of Lincoln's birth, it was the first regular US coin to portray a real person. Designer Victor David Brenner's VDB initials on the reverse caused a public controversy and were removed within days — creating the 1909-S VDB rarity — before returning discreetly on the shoulder in 1918. In 1943 cents were struck in zinc-coated steel to save copper for the war (cataloged separately from this bronze series).