Inspiration of the Lincoln Cent

Issued to commemorate the moment on July 25, 1908, when Theodore Roosevelt sat for portrait sketches by medalist Victor David Brenner who was preparing for the models of the Panama Canal Service Medal. This meeting between these men led to the creation of the Lincoln Cent as a result of Brenner showing Roosevelt a Lincoln plaque he created the year before.

Illustrates Theodore Roosevelt sitting for Victor Brenner, while Brenner is sketching TR for the obverse model of the Panama Canal Service Medal. This is a moment many believe ‘sparked’ the birth of the Lincoln Cent – during the sitting Brenner showed Roosevelt a Lincoln plaque he had created (shown to the right of Brenner’s elbow in the lithograph). Brenner had a fondness for Lincoln and had copyrighted a medal design featuring Lincoln as early as 1907, producing a several speculative medal and plaque variations.