💰 HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO THE LINCOLN CENT, “Born” This Day in 1909

The first Lincoln cents went into circulation on this day in 1909 — they were issued to mark the centennial of Abraham Lincoln’s birth in 1809.

The Lincoln cent was the first regular U.S. coin to feature the image of an actual person, rather than an abstract personification of “Liberty” or something similar. And while past presidents have appeared on many U.S. coins since 1909, it is still federal law that no living person, president or otherwise, shall ever appear on circulating U.S. currency. Monarchies and dictatorships feature their rulers on coins, but the United States, as a republic, never has.

And did you know that there’s an original 1909 Lincoln penny on Mars? It’s true! It was sent there in 2012 with the Curiosity rover to serve as a familiar calibration target for the rover’s cameras. And from the way it looked, I’d say the cameras were working just fine. 📸

You and your students can find all sorts of additional information about the Lincoln cent in its current form by going right to the source: the website of the U.S. Mint (usmint.gov).

For a great educational activity this week, or at any other time of year, pick up two or three rolls of circulated pennies at your local bank or grocery story and have your students sort them out on the kitchen table. (You want a circulated roll, not a roll of new coins all from the current year.) Start by putting them in chronological order. What’s the oldest? What’s the newest? What years are missing? Can your students find one from the year they were born? Can they find one from the year you were born? Can you see any mint marks? (The tiny letters under the date that indicate the city of manufacture.) Keep them in chronological order and then flip them over: do they all have the same reverse (tails) design? How many different reverse designs can you find? Do this once a week or once a month, start filling up some standard Lincoln Cent coin folders, and before you know it you’ll have a team of expert numismatists in your homeschool.

What numismatical discoveries have you and your students made in your homeschool (or on other planets) this Hercules Term? 😊

❡ Lessons that make cents: The Mint has a large collection of free lesson plans and games available on a wide range of topics for students of all ages — just the thing to get some educational treasure hunting under way! 🔎

❡ Homeschool history: For a quick illustrated review of the life of Abraham Lincoln, turn to page 316 in your River Houses history encyclopedia. 📚

❡ Homeschool calendars: We have a whole collection of free, printable, educational homeschool calendars and planners available on our main River Houses calendar page. They will help you create a light and easy structure for your homeschool year. Give them a try today! 🗓

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❡ Join us! The aim of the River Houses project is to create a network of friendly local homeschool support groups — local chapters that we call “Houses.” Our first at-large chapter, Headwaters House, is now forming and is open to homeschoolers everywhere. Find out how to become one of our founding members on the Headwaters House membership page. 🏡