One cent bronze coin of USA: "Oh!Cent!"
In 2024, a sculpture of the American cent coin was erected in the courtyard of Vilnius University Šiauliai Academy (VUŠA). The coin, minted from 1909 until today, was designed by Victor David Brenner (1871-1924), a native of Šiauliai.
Vilius Puronas, an honorary citizen of Šiauliai, a local historian, and an industrial designer, devised the idea to immortalize 1 USA cent coin. In 2018, together with sculptor Vytautas Tallat-Kelpša, he designed the giant coin and named it “Oh!Cent!” (in Lithuanian Ak!Centas! has a double meaning: oh! I see a cent! and [artistic] emphasis).
It is not by accident that the USA coin is on display in Šiauliai. It was created by Victor David Brenner, a sculptor of Lithuanian origin, who was born in Šiauliai in 1871 and emigrated to the USA in 1890, where he became a renowned sculptor, engraver, and medallist. The sculptor created over 125 medals, coats of arms, and bas-relief portraits during his career. One of his most distinguished works is 1 USA cent coin design commemorating the 100th anniversary of Abraham Lincoln’s birth. The first coin was minted in 1909, and it is the oldest design still in use in the history of the USA Mint.
The coin entered the Lithuanian Book of Records as the largest replica of a coin.
The coin has a diameter of 1.45 m, a thickness of 8.8 cm, a total height of 3 m, a total width including the C-shaped holder of 3.32 m, and a thickness of 15.5 cm.
To see the other side of this enormous coin, the visitor should rotate it around the axis.
The sculpture was placed in the courtyard of Šiauliai Academy of Vilnius University as its Information Centre has a room of Lithuanian cents and an exposition of 1 USA cent coins collection, which was accumulated by the Lithuanians living in America.
Today, this symbol has returned to Brenner’s hometown not only as a spectacular artistic emphasis but also as a collection of 1 USA cent coins.
The place for the sculpture was chosen so that it could be seen through the window of the Cents Room.
Šiauliai Academy Information centre,
Vytauto St. 84, (Courtyard)
Phone.: (370 41) 595706;
Email: saic@mb.vu.lt
Working hours:
I-IV 8.00 - 19.00;
VI 10.00 - 15.00.
During the summer June 25 - August 31
I-IV 8.00 - 17.00;
V 8.00 - 15.45.
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