 The Lincoln cent ( or sometimes called Lincoln penny ) is a one @-@ cent coin that has been struck by the United States Mint since 1909 . The obverse or heads side was designed by Victor David Brenner , as was the original reverse . The coin has seen several reverse , or tails , designs and now bears one by Lyndall Bass depicting a Union shield . All coins struck by the United States government with a value of 1 / 100 of a dollar are called cents because the United States has always minted coins using decimals . The penny nickname is a carryover from the coins struck in England which went to decimals for coins in 1971 . 
