Lincoln Bicentennial Cent, 2009 : A Collector’s Guide

By Charles Morgan and Hubert Walker for CoinWeek Notes …..
 

In 2009, on the occasion of the 200th anniversary of Abraham Lincoln’s birth, Congress gave the United States Mint a mandate to strike a series of commemorative cents to honor four distinct periods in the President’s life, starting with his humble beginnings as the son of a frontier farmer living in a single-room log cabin and concluding with a design emblematic of his historic presidency, where he stayed true to the Union as the country was plunged into Civil War.

The Lincoln Bicentennial Cent designs replaced Frank Gasparro’s Memorial Cent designs, which were introduced in 1959 to mark the President’s 150th birthday. That design, of course, came 50 years after the Lincoln Wheat Cent’s introduction in 1909, which coincided with the centennial of Lincoln’s birth.

Each of the four designs was produced over a 12-week production period. After three months, the circulation strike version of the coin was retired and the Mint began to strike the next design in the series.

In addition to the copper-plated zinc versions produced for commerce, collector versions were struck in the 3.11-gram pre-1982 copper alloy in Uncirculated and Proof formats. These were offered exclusively in collector sets and can be collected in addition to the regular business strikes.

The Great Recession Hampers 2009 Cent Distribution

Congress envisioned the coins would serve as (widely) circulating commemoratives – just like the 50 State Quarters and Westward Journey Nickel series. But Congress did not anticipate that a major economic meltdown would bring the nation’s leading banks to the brink of default right before the Lincoln Bicentennial Cent coinage was set to be released. Unfortunately, the meltdown impacted the coin’s production and release, with far fewer cents struck than expected and many shipped to U.S. territories. Collectors in the contiguous 48 found it somewhat difficult to acquire the coins at face value.

As a result, a price bubble emerged shortly after the first release. While profiteers made a quick buck from the public’s fear of missing out, the Mint offered collectors the opportunity to buy uncirculated P- and D-Mint examples of each 2009 cent in roll quantity for $8.95 plus shipping–quite a premium for 100 base-metal coins with a combined face value of just $1.

Tens of thousands of 2009 Lincoln Bicentennial Cents were submitted to NGC and PCGS for grading upon issue. Submissions peaked during the release of the Formative Years Cent, after which marketer interest in the series declined with each subsequent entry, making the Presidency Cent scarce in certified Superb Gem Mint State by comparison.

Birth and Early Childhood in Kentucky (1809-1816)

A log cabin representing the Lincoln birthplace and early homesite dominates the reverse of the Lincoln Birth and Early Childhood Cent. The coin was designed by Richard Masters and sculpted by Jim Licaretz.

Formative Years in Indiana (1816-1830)

A youthful Abraham Lincoln is depicted on the reverse of the Formative Years in Indiana Cent. The design shows the future President as a humble rail-splitter and autodidact. This coin was designed and sculpted by Charles Vickers.

Professional Life in Illinois (1830-1861)

Abraham Lincoln stands with his left arm extended in front of the Illinois State Capitol on the reverse of the 2009 Lincoln Professional Life in Illinois Cent. This design was created by Joel Iskowitz and sculpted by Don Everhart.

Presidency in Washington, D.C. (1861-1865)

The Presidency in Washington Cent is the final design of the 2009 Bicentennial Cent program. It features a Susan Gamble rendition of the United States Capitol building, its famous dome still under construction as it was for the duration of the Civil War. Lincoln, who was assassinated on April 15, 1865, did not live to see its completion. This design had the lowest mintage of the four 2009 Bicentennial Cent releases.

Lincoln Bicentennial Cent Design

Common Obverse:

A right-facing Lincoln occupies most of the obverse. At the top, inside a raised rim and above Lincoln’s head, is the motto IN GOD WE TRUST. To the left of the portrait is the word LIBERTY, and to the right and slightly lower, is the date. Bronze/brass Lincoln Memorial Cents were minted at Philadelphia, Denver, and San Francisco; D and S mintmarks appear below the date.

Edge:

The edge of the 2009 Lincoln Bicentennial Cent is plain or smooth, without reeding or edge lettering.

Coin Specifications

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