I’ve always wondered why on U.S coins, Lincoln faces right while on the quarter, nickel and dime the others face left. In a movie, the title escapes me, Danny Glover’s character claimed the reason was “they turned their backs on Lincoln cause he freed the slaves”. Sounds like a logical explanation, but I have been unable to find any validity to this statement or a logical answer to this question that I have pondered for years. Maybe I should get out more. Any comments are welcome. 
Seeing as Washington and Jefferson were dead before Lincoln freed the slaves, which he didn’t really, but that’s a whole nother debate. It is very unlikely.
Welcome to the Boards! I believe that the real answer is that Lincoln’s facing the way he is, has to do with the fact that he was assinated while in office.
http://www.ustreas.gov/education/faq/coins/portraits.html#q1
But, of course, “They’re” not going to tell you that it’s really because Lincoln freed the slaves…
Considering that Lincoln is the first real person to appear on a US coin, the sculptor(Victor David Brenner) could have faced him anyway he pleased. But he faced him to the right because
Most photographs of Lincoln are in right profile. Either he or his photographers apparently thought it his “better side”. A lot of it might have had to do with a childhood injury which affected the left side of his face (he was kicked by a horse). See “Preference for Photographs of Right Side of Face” in the following:
That’s the story I heard, yabob. And it makes sense.
Peace,
mangeorge