Abraham Lincoln (the 16th President of the United States, led the United States through its Civil War, abolished slavery) bust right, date lower right. The lettering LIBERTY and the motto IN GOD WE TRUST.

When the Lincoln one-cent coin made its initial appearance in 1909, it was the first regular coin to bear a portrait. In fact, the first President of the United States George Washington is said to have refused to allow his likeness to be incorporated into any coins. He felt, and most agreed for decades, that a portrait of a real individual was too similar to the practice of using images of royalty on coins used by the monarchal governments of Europe. But public sentiment stemming from the 100th-anniversary celebration of Abraham Lincoln's birth proved stronger than the long-standing tradition. The motto In God We Trust appeared for the first time on a coin of this denomination.

The obverse or heads side was designed by Victor David Brenner. Brenner's initials (V.D.B.), on the reverse at its base, were deemed too prominent once the coins were issued and were removed within days of the release. The initials were restored on the bottom sleeve of Abraham Lincoln, this time smaller, on Lincoln's shoulder, in 1918.

Presidency Penny commemorates the Presidency of Lincoln. Depicted on the reverse of the coin is the early partially built United States Capitol dome.

The United States Capitol, often called Capitol Hill, is the seat of the United States Congress, the legislative branch of the U.S. federal government. It sits atop Capitol Hill, at the eastern end of the National Mall in Washington, D.C.

The United States Capitol dome is the dome situated above the United States Capitol which reaches upwards to 288 feet (88 m) in height and 96 feet (29 m) in diameter. The dome was designed by Thomas U. Walter, the fourth Architect of the Capitol, and constructed between 1855 and 1866. The dome is not stone, but cast iron carefully painted to appear to be made of the same stone as the main capitol building.

Designers: Susan Gamble (SG) and Joseph Menna (JFM)