Beginning in 2010, the Union Shield reverse was adopted to represent Lincoln’s preservation of the United States as a single, united country. While common in pocket change, this category focuses on high-grade Registry Set coins and the unique 2017-P cent—the only Lincoln penny to ever bear the “P” mint mark from Philadelphia.
The Lincoln Shield Cent features a union shield with 13 stripes, symbolizing the states as a single united country. While these are common in pocket change, they represent the current era of the longest-running portrait in US history.
Collector’s Note: The standout for this series is the 2017-P Lincoln Cent. For the first time in history, the Philadelphia Mint placed a “P” mint mark on a penny to celebrate its 225th anniversary. Collectors also hunt for “Zinc Rot” (plating blisters) and modern doubled dies, which continue to be discovered in uncirculated rolls.
The Union Shield Cents serve as the fifth and final chapter in the story of the Lincoln penny’s redesign. Debuting in 2010, the Union Shield reverse replaced the four-piece Bicentennial series of 2009 and the long-running Memorial reverse that had been a staple since 1959. This design was specifically chosen to represent Lincoln’s successful preservation…