Penny (United States coin)

The United States one-cent coin, also called the penny, is a unit of currency. It equals one one hundredth of a United States dollar. The cent's symbol is ¢. Its front has shown the profile of President Abraham Lincoln since 1909, 100 years after his birth. Its back has shown the Union Shield since 2010. In 2025, pennies stopped being made for the general public, but pennies remain legal tender and are still made for collectors.

The official name for this coin from the United States Mint is "cent".

 Toxicity 

Zinc is a main part of U.S. pennies minted after 1982, and is toxic. Swallowing a penny, which is almost fully made of zinc, can cause damage to the stomach lining. Coins are the most common eaten object in children, but are generally allowed to pass, unless the patient shows symptoms. Zinc toxicity is commonly fatal in dogs, where it causes a severe hemolytic anemia.
References

Category:American coins