Drescription:  The Union Shield cent, issued from 2010 to the present, features a reverse design by Lyndall Bass depicting a Union Shield with 13 vertical stripes, a draped scroll reading "ONE CENT," and the motto "E PLURIBUS UNUM". It replaced the Lincoln Memorial design, symbolizing Lincoln's preservation of the Union, while retaining the classic 1909 Victor David Brenner portrait of Lincoln on the obverse.

Key Specifications & Design Elements:

Composition: 97.5% Zinc, 2.5% Copper.

Reverse Design: A shield with 13 vertical stripes (representing the original states) and a horizontal top bar (representing the federal government). A ribbon across the center reads "ONE CENT".

Inscriptions: "UNITED STATES OF AMERICA" (upper rim), "E PLURIBUS UNUM" (on the shield bar), "LIBERTY" (obverse, left), "IN GOD WE TRUST" (obverse, top).

Mint Marks: Philadelphia (P), Denver (D), San Francisco (S), and West Point (W, in 2019) appear below the date.

The design is meant to represent the union of the states, with the shield symbolizing the preservation of the country during the Civil War. The coins are produced in both circulation (business strike) and proof, with some early, high-grade examples being highly collectible.