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The cornerstone of any collection, the 1946-S RD Lincoln cent is a must for anyone interested in "Numismatics" or the art of coin collecting. Minted in San Francisco in 1909(note the mint mark "S") and composed of brass, the original Lincoln cent replaced the Indian Head cent first introduced in 1859. The 1909 start date of the Lincoln cent commemorated the centennial of Lincoln’s birth. The reverse side of the coin features two sweeping stocks of wheat, which is why it’s known as “the Wheat Penny.” Victor D Brenner chose durum wheat for the engraving. These wheat ears would be replaced in 1959 by the Lincoln Memorial in Washington DC. The Wheat Pennies showed stalks surrounded by the words “One Cent.” All coins struck by the United States government with a value of 1/100 of a dollar are called cents because the United States mintage has produced coins using decimals. The penny nickname is a carryover from the coins struck in England, which went to decimals for coins in 1971. Engraved below this denomination are the words "United States of America" while the famous motto "E Pluribus Unum" is printed above it. The obverse side features the profile of Abraham Lincoln, with the word "Liberty" behind him. He is wearing a suit and bow tie, and the coin’s date is aligned with his breast, with the mint mark, a small letter "S," below, to designate this coin as a San Francisco-minted penny. Designed by Victor D. Brenner, the Lincoln cent is the longest-running design in the United States Mint history. Brenner’s design had been picked by 26th U.S. President, Theodore Roosevelt in 1909, who had earlier posed for him in New York. Brenner’s association with his Lincoln penny solidified Brenner’s enduring acclaim as a world-renowned artist, sculptor and engraver. Brenner’s initials (VDB), on the reverse at the coin’s base, were deemed too prominent once the coins were issued, and were removed within days of the release. The initials were restored, this time smaller, on Lincoln’s shoulder, in 1918. The 1946 coins are surprisingly difficult to locate, as the San Francisco Mint in the late 1940's was very budget minded and ran the dies way too long. When the dies became too worn, they were refinished to restore their smooth fields, but this resulted in the loss of all shallow design features making the more pronounced designs rare. The penny is 19 millimeters in diameter and weighs 3.11 grams. The coin has a plain edge and are known for their red color which is the result of a die. The Lincoln 1946 S cent is a coin comprised of 95 percent copper and 5 percent zinc. The cent coin was changed for one year to steel in 1943 as copper was needed to aid in the war effort. After three years, the cent returned to its full prewar composition, which it used until 1982, when inflation made the fluctuating prices for copper too expensive and the coin’s composition was changed to zinc with an outer copper layer. These pennies are not only a great gift for new collector but could provide a boost to any already established collection given the variety between pennies. Given their variety, the Lincoln pennies are a great way to learn coin grading, hence, it’s not just valuable as a collector’s item but will provide enrichment and learning for anyone interested in U.S. currencies.