Symbolism: the Wheatback cent

Studio60 · February 1, 2011 4:26AM

Why was wheat selected for the reverse of the cent in earlier times? Was there a symbolism with these stalks that is missing today?

airplanenut · February 1, 2011 4:34AM

I'm not sure about the wheat cent per se, but the U.S. has shown the importance of the agricultural in the past. Look at the wreath on the seated and Barber dime reverses (Newlin's wreath of cereals) which contains numerous cash crops.

RWB · February 1, 2011 4:45AM

Abundance - prosperity - fertility of the land

Studio60 · February 1, 2011 4:50AM

Generally the reverse of a U.S. coin offers some type of relationship to the obverse. Case in point, the Buffalo nickel. Another example, the Jefferson nickel. Our Half dollars. Our silver dollars. The obverses & reverses are themed.

(Even the Memorial cent makes sense, so to speak.)

From my earlier education though I am somewhat confident President Lincoln was not a wheat farmer.
-color me confused.

RWB · February 1, 2011 4:54AM

The wreaths on US coins tend to be either heroic or agricultural.

The wheat on the old cent is not literal. The bufalo nickel, and coin with buildings have literal relationships between the faces, but most other US coins do not.

LanLord · February 1, 2011 5:22AM

It was used to honor Zack Wheat, a famous early pro baseball player.

CaptHenway · February 1, 2011 5:52AM

I always had this vague impression that common wheat, the staff of life, represented the common man.
TD

Outhaul · February 1, 2011 5:55AM

<< <i>I always had this vague impression that common wheat, the staff of life, represented the common man. >>

So that would make it common cents?

Cheers,

Bob

scottgardener · February 1, 2011 5:58AM

It's a metaphor for abundance, part of the elegance and artistry that went into historic coins and something that has gotten lost as modern coins have increasingly gone to picturing concrete examples of things. I'm so happy to see the shield design replace the memorial "jailhouse" on the back of the cent. (I did think the 100th anniversary Lincoln cent designs were nice for a one year run, without resorting to five or six new reverses every year.) I think Lincoln himself would have preferred it, too, as it represents more of that for which he fought. My only gripe would be missing the opportunity to put the "one" in "one cent" more symbolically, to take advantage of a possible double meaning. But, I'm not complaining; it's good to see abstraction, design, and intellect coming back.

AMRC · February 1, 2011 6:02AM

"amber waves of grain" ring any bells?

RW · February 1, 2011 6:18AM

<< <i>"amber waves of grain" ring any bells? >>

Studio60 · February 1, 2011 6:44AM

<< <i>"amber waves of grain" ring any bells? >>

No, but now I hear a string cortet in my head.

airplanenut · February 1, 2011 7:05AM

[]Generally the reverse of a U.S. coin offers some type of relationship to the obverse. Case in point, the Buffalo nickel. Another example, the Jefferson nickel. Our Half dollars. Our silver dollars. The obverses & reverses are themed. >>

Really? What did the obverse and reverse have to do with each other on just about anything designed prior to 1900? Liberty on one side and an eagle/wreath on the other are general themes, but I don't see them tied to each other.

Studio60 · February 1, 2011 7:22AM

Liberty = Freedom and strength.

United States Eagle = Strength and Freedom.

I am looking right now on my desk Lady Liberty wearing a partial blindfold. Next to my desk is the American flag with a brass eagle valiantly positioned on top of the pole.

The common symbolismsod both is not lost even on the casual observer.

edix2001 · February 1, 2011 7:29AM

Bread used to be a penny a loaf.

ambro51 · February 1, 2011 7:30AM

Brenner was one heck of a copier but a poor designer and he didnt think in the abstract too well.

He was baffled trying to figure out how to extend Lincolns coat for the initial rectangular plaque for instance, since the photograph he copied it off only went down to mid chest.

I suppose he was only paid for the Obverse....

Swampboy · February 1, 2011 7:33AM

In ancient Rome the average person would consume two pounds of bread per day.
In the early 1900s the average Frenchman still consumed two pounds of bread per day.
By the time of the Lincoln cent's debut Wheat had been a symbol of plenty and prosperity for thousands of years.

Symbolism: the Wheatback cent

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