Coin Videos

In this video, CBS News anchor Katie Couric explains the government is changing the penny to honor the bicentennial birthday of President Lincoln. She says making over the penny, according to the mint, just makes sense. To explain, she gives a brief history of the penny.

In 1909, the mint marked the 100th anniversary of Lincoln's birth by changing the Indian Head penny to a portrait of Lincoln on one side and ears of wheat on the other. The video displays a nice image of an Indian Head penny. The next modification she mentions is the penny's metal composition in 1943, which only briefly switches to zinc coated steel during the WWII copper shortage.

The video goes on to demonstrate that the mint made over the penny again, in 1959, to mark the 150th anniversary of Lincoln's birth. They changed the ears of wheat to a picture of the Lincoln Memorial.

Finally, the video unveils all four designs of the 2009 Lincoln penny, made over again to commemorate the 200th anniversary of Lincoln's birth and mark the 100th anniversary of his penny. Each design portrays a different part of Lincoln's life. On the first penny, the video shows the artwork of a log cabin representing Lincoln's birthplace. The second shows Lincoln's work as a rail splinter, and the third is the beginning of his political career. Finally, the fourth penny represents his presidency, with an image of the Capitol's dome as a work in progress.

The first penny, Couric reports in the video, was released on February 12, 2009 - Lincoln's birthday.

Cent Information

• 2009 Lincoln Cents
• Lincoln Pennies
• New Penny