2010 Shield Reverse Lincoln Cents - In Circulation

Despite the fact that the 2010 Shield Lincoln cents were scheduled to be released on February 11, 2010, many of the coins managed to escape the U.S. Mint much earlier. At PCGS, we received several coins before the scheduled release date of the 2010 Shield Cents, and we actually received them as early as late December 2009.

The 2010 Shield Cent design was first unveiled to the public on November 12, 2009. The Mint presented the new design at a ceremony that took place at the Ulysses S. Grant M. memorial in Washington, D.C.

The new 2010 Shield Cents will continue with the same Lincoln cent obverse design utilized since 1909. However, the reverse design will no longer display the Lincoln Cent themes on the reverse and instead, it will now depict the shield reverse design.

The shield reverse design has been used in different classic U.S. coins in the past as a representation of the original 13 states. The words E PLURIBUS UNUM are inscribed at the top of the shield. A scroll with the words ONE CENT is transparent above the shield design. The words UNITED STATES OF AMERICA are elegantly arched above the shield design.

The new 2010 Shield Cents were scheduled to be released at the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum in Springfield, Illinois on February 11, 2010. Children under 18 received a free 2010 Shield Cent, while the public was allowed to exchange two to six rolls of the new cents and only charged face value for the rolls. As of 2010, there are no plans to replace the 2010 Shield Reverse design and it should continue being displayed on the coins as long as the Lincoln cents are being produced.