Abraham Lincoln would have been 206 years old today. In honor of his birthday, we thought we’d share some fun facts about the Lincoln Penny.  Enjoy!

• The first Lincoln penny was circulated August 2, 1909, replacing the Indian-head coin.
• The Lincoln Penny was ordered in that year by President Theodore Roosevelt to mark Lincoln’s 100th birthday.
• To celebrate Lincoln’s 150th birthday, the Lincoln Memorial replaced wheat shocks on the back of the penny.
• To celebrate Lincoln’s 200th year, the U.S. Mint made four special edition pennies, each with a flip side that shows a different period in Lincoln’s life.
• The Lincoln penny was the first U.S. coin to feature a historic figure.
• The Lincoln penny was the first cent on which the words “In God We Trust” appeared.
• The penny is the only coin where the portrait of the person on the coin is looking to the right (the nickel, dime quarter and half dollar, the individuals are looking left).
• The Lincoln penny, in circulation longer than any other U.S. coin, is still being minted.
• Over two-thirds of all coins produced by the U.S. Mint are pennies.
• Pennies generally last 25 to 30 years.
• If you think pennies just aren’t worth it, you’re right! Each costs an estimated 1.4 cents for the U.S. Mint to produce.