The Fargo forum and daily republican., 1909-08-11
new LINCOLN PENNIES
Some of Its Features Found on Cents
Of Long Aeo-The Flying
Eagle.

The New York Sun: The new Lin
coin cent shows more innovations than
any other United States coin that has
appeared in recent years in both de-
sign and Inscription, and yet some of
Its features are only revivals of de-
tails used on coins when the country
was in its infancy.
In adding the motto "E Pluribus
Unum' to the Lincoln cent a time hon.
ored device is once more restored to
American copper coins. The COPPER
cents Of several of the States Of the
Confederation bore this motto: In fact
they were the first coins to show II.
Among these states were New York
and New Jersey, the motto first appear
ing on the cent Of the latter state in
1886 and in New York in 1887.
Then too the word Liberty" has
come back to its old place on the OBJ
verse Of the new cent. This word was
a favorite with the old engravers OF
cents and the only Inscription borne
by the diverse OF the cents first issued
in 1888 and up to 1908. Then a change
In design was made and the word was
taken from the border of the coin and
placed on the diadem of Liberty, where
1t remained until 1857, when the white
metal flying eagle cent took the place
OF uhe familiar head Of Liberty. 1t was
| reviewed on the Indian head cent. but
placed In minute letters on the band OF
| the headdress Of feathers.
The Lincoln cent is the first coin Of
the denomination to bear the motto TN
| God We Trust" This motto ts no
stranger, however, upon copper coins.
as the copper nickel two cent piece is-
sued from 1854 to 1878 was the first of
all the United States coins to bear II.
The dime, half dime, silver three cent
piece and nickel three cent piece have
never borne the motto.
The old five cent nickel piece with a
shield on the diverse bore the motto.
and when q change In design was con-
! templaued In 1882 the designers placed
| the motto over the head Of Liberty,
which was like that on the nickel now
in use. The motto was discarded when
the new design was adopted in 1883
and was replaced by circle of thirteen
stars.
! On one OF the reverse designs made
at the mint in 1882 the field bore a
large Roman numeral ''v," surrounded
i oS ~ WI ICdIti, diiu dt Tie LUp was LDe
motto TN God We Trust" in very small
letters. This design also met with dis
approval, and when the new nickel was
adopted II was found that the motto
had been altogether abandoned. its
place being taken by 'E Plurtbus
/ Unum."
Another return to the form of old
days was the placing OF rfle title Unit
ed States Of America on the reverse
of the cent instead Of the diverse
where 1t had been for SO many years
All the large copper cents showed the
title on the reverse. 1t was transferred
/ 20 the diverse when the Indian head
I vas adopted in 1858.
The cent has not seen many changes
If design when one considers that 1t
as appeared more regularly than any
ether United States coin, having made
. appearance each year from 1898,
he first year of the issue, up to the
resent time, with the single exception
ff the year 1915.
The first design showed a head OF
Liberty facing to the right, with loose
~ flowing hair, the word Liberty" In
large letters above and the date below.
| On the reverse was the inscription