Lincoln Memorial Cents (1959 – 1982) In celebration of the 150th anniversary of Lincoln’s birth, the long standing small cent wheat reverse was changed. The obverse remained Lincoln’s bust designed originally by Victor D. Brenner in 1909. The reverse was designed by Frank Gasparro and depicts the Lincoln Memorial Building in Washington D.C. The coins were produced in bronze from 1959 until 1982 when the composition was changed to the current copper coated zinc. While some of the later dates are still found in circulation, the series has gained in popularity over the last decade.