<P> Theodore Roosevelt, the 26th U.S. President, thought American coins were so common and uninspiring that he attempted to get the motto "In God We Trust" removed as offending religion . Roosevelt had the opportunity to pose for a young Lithuanian - born Jew, Victor David Brenner, who, since arriving nineteen years earlier in the United States had become one of the nation's premier medalists . Roosevelt had learned of Brenner's talents in a settlement house on New York City's Lower East Side and was immediately impressed with a bas - relief that Brenner had made of Lincoln, based on a Mathew Brady photograph . Roosevelt, who considered Lincoln the savior of the Union and the greatest Republican President, and who also considered himself Lincoln's political heir, ordered the new Lincoln cent to be based on Brenner's work and to be released just in time to commemorate Lincoln's 100th birthday in 1909 . The likeness of President Lincoln on the obverse of the coin is an adaptation of a plaque Brenner created several years earlier which had come to the attention of President Roosevelt in New York . </P> <P> In addition to the prescribed elements on U.S. coins--LIBERTY and the date--the motto In God We Trust appeared for the first time on a coin of this denomination . The United States Congress passed the Act of March 3, 1865, authorizing the use of this motto on U.S. coins, during Lincoln's tenure in office . </P> <P> Even though no legislation was required for the new design, approval of the Secretary of the Treasury was necessary to make the change . Franklin MacVeagh gave his approval on July 14, 1909, and not quite three weeks later, on August 2, the new coin was released to the public . </P> <P> In 1918, after the controversy over Brenner's name and initials on the reverse had died down, his initials were placed on the obverse with no further controversy . They are to be found in minute form on the rim of the bust, just under the shoulder of Lincoln . </P>

When did pennies stop having copper in them