The Lincoln Cent has been redesigned with a brand new reverse depicting the Union Shield and details of the original obverse portrait of Abraham Lincoln restored. The new design is intended to be representative of Lincoln’s preservation of the United States as a single and united country. The Union Shield Cents will be issued from 2010 into the foreseeable future.
The Union Shield consists of thirteen vertical stripes bound by an upper horizontal bar. This represents the original thirteen states joined together in support of the federal government. The shield depicted on the reverse of the new penny design includes the motto “E Pluribus Unum” (”Out of Many, One”) on the horizontal bar. The denomination “One Cent” is included on a scroll draped across the shield and “United States of America” appears above. The reverse was designed by Lyndall Bass and sculpted by Joseph Menna.
The obverse of the coin features a portrait of Abraham Lincoln designed by Vincent D. Brenner. Details of the original rendition of the portrait as it appeared on the 1909 Lincoln Cent have been restored. The motto “In God We Trust” appears above the portrait along with upper rim. To the left of the portrait is “Liberty” and to the right is the date of issue.