Identifying the Penny (Value & Attributes) - First Grade Mathematics

Coins are small metal discs that people use to buy goods and services all around the world. In the United States, the coin you will encounter most frequently is the humble, reddish-brown coin called the penny! Even though the penny has the smallest monetary value of all American coins, it is the foundational building block for all money math. Every other coin's value is measured by how many pennies it equals! In this chapter, you will discover the unique color, pictures, edges, and value of the penny.

The Attributes of a Penny

You can identify a penny instantly because it looks completely different from every other American coin.

Visual Profile of the Penny:

   Front (Heads):               Back (Tails):
     .-------.                    .-------.
    /  _   _  \                  /  UNION  \
   |  (.) (.)  |                |  SHIELD   |
   |     ^     |                |  or LINCOLN|
   |   \___/   |                |  MEMORIAL |
    \         /                  \         /
     '-------'                    '-------'
  Abraham Lincoln               Shield / Memorial

Attribute 1: Copper Color

Every other standard American coin (nickel, dime, quarter) is silvery-gray. The penny is unique because it is made with copper, giving it a warm, shiny reddish-brown or bronze appearance!

Attribute 2: The Face on Front (Heads)

On the front of the penny is the portrait of Abraham Lincoln, the 16th President of the United States. He is famous for wearing a tall stovepipe hat and leading the nation during the Civil War. On the penny, you can see his bearded profile facing to the right.

Attribute 3: The Design on Back (Tails)

On the back of newer pennies, you will see the Union Shield with 13 vertical stripes, symbolizing the states united as one country. On older pennies minted before 2010, you will see the Lincoln Memorial building with tiny columns.

Attribute 4: Smooth Edge

If you run your fingertip along the outer rim of a penny, you will feel that its edge is completely smooth, unlike dimes and quarters which have ridged edges.

The Value of a Penny: Exactly 1 Cent

The penny has a monetary value of exactly ONE CENT.

The Value Equation:
1 Penny = 1 Cent = 1c

The Base Unit of Money

One cent is like one single unit block in base-ten blocks. When you count pennies, you count by ones: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5... Ten pennies equal ten cents (one dime). One hundred pennies equal one whole dollar!

Practice Exercises

Exercise 1: What distinct color makes a penny easy to spot in a pile of mixed coins?

Exercise 2: Whose portrait appears on the front (heads side) of the American penny, and what is the value of one penny?

Exercise 3: Is the outer edge of a penny smooth or ridged with bumpy grooves?

Exercise 4: How many pennies do you need to equal the value of 8 cents?

Solutions and Explanations

Solution to Exercise 1: The penny has a distinctive reddish-brown or copper color that sets it apart from all other silver-colored coins.

Solution to Exercise 2: Abraham Lincoln (the 16th President of the United States) appears on the front of the penny. The value of one penny is exactly one cent (1¢).

Solution to Exercise 3: The outer edge of a penny is completely smooth.

Solution to Exercise 4: Since each penny is worth exactly 1 cent, you need 8 pennies to equal 8 cents.