 In late 1908 , Roosevelt sat for sculptor Victor David Brenner , who was designing a medal for the Panama Canal Commission . While the contents of their conversations were never recorded , it appears they discussed Roosevelt 's plans for coinage redesign . Roosevelt had admired a 1907 plaque of Lincoln which the artist had produced . It is uncertain how Brenner was selected to design the cent , but in January 1909 , Mint Director Frank A. Leach contacted Brenner to ask his fee for designing the coin . Brenner mentioned in his correspondence with Leach that the President had liked his Lincoln design ; there is no evidence Brenner considered any other concept for the piece . 
