Sound Off

Could you explain why President Lincoln faces to the right on the penny? All other coins show the president facing to the left.

According to the U.S. Mint, the direction he’s facing is different from other coins because the images were taken from famous portraits. Each coin reflects the direction that the original artist chose the president to face. Lincoln’s design originates from a photograph taken on Feb. 9, 1864. He faces right in the photo and thus faces right on the penny. The new dollars and nickels are different. Jefferson is facing forward on the nickel, Sacagawea is looking over her shoulder on the dollar, and Washington is looking forward on the presidential dollar.



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