The US penny features President Abraham Lincoln on its obverse (heads) side. Lincoln has been on the penny since 1909, when it was issued to commemorate the centennial of his birth.
The penny is one of several US coins featuring a president:
- Penny: Abraham Lincoln
- Nickel: Thomas Jefferson
- Dime: Franklin D. Roosevelt
- Quarter: George Washington
- Half Dollar Coin: John F. Kennedy
The decision to feature presidents on coins, starting with Lincoln, was a departure from the previous tradition of depicting allegorical figures like Lady Liberty.
