Why does Lincoln face the other way on a penny?

Factual Questions
1

One of my students just asked me that question, and I could have sworn Cecil or somebody answered it before. A search of the Archives has turned up nothing. Does anybody have the answer, or the link? Samclem?

My thought was that it was just the way the engraver thought looked better. Everybody else faces left. The Sackie has a frontal view. Why is Lincoln the oddball?

2

http://www.usmint.gov/about_the_mint/fun_facts/index.cfm?flash=no&action=fun_facts4

3

To supplement that link, we HAVE been over this before:

Lincoln’s right side was his “better side”, apparently because of an old injury to left side of his face (he was kicked by a horse).

4

I knew I could count on you people! Less than 10 minutes for a complete reply, with cites!

Thanks! :smiley:

5

By the way, you can see Lincoln on both sides of the penny. You can see just a very small bit of the statue in between the pillars of the Lincoln Memorial.

–Cliffy

6

or maybe this is the reason.

7

Because his mole has psychic abilities, and can read your thoughts when you look at it.

8

Not anymore!

(Although two of the four commemorative issues did have larger images of him, this is the current and permanent version. And yes, I do realize the post I’m quoting is almost seven years old.)

9

I hesitate to contribute to a zombie thread, but the very day you quoted me from seven years back, I had a conversation with the bookstore clerk about how I hated the new penny in part because you can’t see Lincoln on the back anymore. (Also, it’s ugly.)

–Cliffy