Coin Blog

Today the United States Mint unveiled the designs for the eagerly anticipated 2009 Lincoln Cent.

Next year, Abraham Lincoln’s Bicentennial will be celebrated with four different reverse designs for the penny that has borne his images for the past 100 years. The first new coin will enter circulation on February 12, 2009.

Each design is meant to represent a different period of Lincoln’s life.

2009 Lincoln Cent Design - Birth and Early Childhood in Kentucky

2009 Lincoln Cent Design -  Formative Years in Indiana

2009 Lincoln Cent Design - Professional Life in Illinois

2009 Lincoln Cent Design - Presidency in Washington, D.C.

Next year the Lincoln Cent will be celebrating its 100th Anniversary.  The celebration will include four new reverse designs representing aspects of Lincoln’s life, as well as special collector’s versions of the coins.

The Lincoln Cent was first minted in 1909 to celebrate Abraham Lincoln’s 100th birthday.  At the time the coin was minted in 95% copper with the balance of the composition in tin and zinc.  The obverse design featured a bust of Lincoln by Vincent D. Brenner, and the reverse featured a pair of “Wheat Ears.”  Because of the reverse design, these coins are sometimes referred to as “wheaties.”

The reverse design was changed in 1959 to celebrate the 150th anniversary of Lincoln’s birth and the 50th anniversary of the Lincoln Cent.  The new design featured a rendition of the Lincoln Memorial. Close inspection will also reveal a likeness of the Lincoln Monument within the Memorial.

The festivities prepared for the 2009 Lincoln Cent are numerous.  Primarily the event will be celebrated with four new reverse designs.  These designs are intended to represent major stages of Lincoln’s life: his birth in Kentucky, his formative years in Indiana, his professional life in Iillinios, and his presidency in Washington, D.C.

The reverse design will be changed approximately every three months during 2009.  Starting in 2010, the reverse design will be changed once again to one which is emblematc of Lincoln’s preservation of the United States of America as a unified country.

Collector’s versions of the 2009 Lincoln Cent are also expected to be available.  These will included cents struck in the original composition of 95% copper and 5% tin and zinc.  Proof versions of the coins are also expected to be available in government issued proof sets.

Keep an eye out for additional news, 2009 is fast approaching!

The House of Representatives recently voted in favor of a bill that would require the Mint to switch the composition of the penny and nickel.  The composition of the penny would be changed from the current copper plated zinc to copper plated steel.

The reason for the legislation is the rising cost of metals that make production of cents and nickels an unprofitable endeavor for the US Mint.  Cents currently cost 1.26 cents to produce and nickels cost 7.7 cents to produce.  A switch in composition could potentially save $1 billion over the next decade.

Mint Director Edmund Moy has expressed concerns about the legislation in its current form.  The Mint would only have 9 months to start production of cents under the new composition.  Furthermore, steel is also subject to the same forcing driving up the costs of zinc.

The legislation now moves to the Senate where it is expected to be met with objections by some lawmakers.