Many thanks, as always, to those who responded.  

People  from outside the United States came up with more interesting guesses.

From: Sabine
Date: Friday, January 12, 2001 3:13 AM

[whose  guess was a man on a bicycle, offered the following pointer to Belgian coins, for comparison]
These are coins from the 80's in Belgium: http://images.yezzz.com/yezzz-fi41128.jpeg

From: Tim R.
Date: Friday, January 12, 2001 10:11 AM

It's the statue of Lincoln in the Lincoln Memorial, on the back of a penny.

From: Marvin
Date: Friday, January 12, 2001 10:39 AM

A sheet-metal wall, painted red.

From: Alan & Becky
Date: Friday, January 12, 2001 11:49 AM

Looks like someone standing outside on a sunny day. The picture taken
through the curtains.....maybe it's the mailman?????

Great site Mike!!!!

Becky

From: Lee Shere
Date: Friday, January 12, 2001 10:03 PM

Abraham Lincoln sitting in the Lincoln Memorial as portrayed
on the back of a penny.

Lee

From: Tia
Date: Sunday, January 14, 2001 7:42 PM

it is a metal sign reflecting .....you?

From: tlager
Date: Wednesday, January 17, 2001 10:55 AM

It's a close up of the back side of a copper penny.

You wanna see a Penny?

click for a large image
photo by Erik Chell