In 2009, the United States Mint will mint and issue four different one-cent coins in recognition of the bicentennial of Abraham Lincoln’s birth and the 100th anniversary of the production of the Lincoln cent. While the obverse will continue to bear the likeness of President Lincoln currently on the penny, the reverse will change to bear four different designs, each representing a different aspect of the life of Abraham Lincoln.
The themes for the reverse designs represent the four major aspects of Abraham Lincoln’s life, as outlined in
Public Law 109-145.
- Lincoln's Birth in Kentucky (1809-1816)
- Formative Years in Indiana (1816-1830)
- Professional Life in Illinois (1830-1861)
- Presidency in Washington, DC (1861-1865)
A new design will be issued approximately every 3 months in 2009. The designs for the coins will be chosen by the Secretary of the Treasury after consultation with the Abraham Lincoln Bicentennial Commission and the Commission of Fine Arts, and after review by the Citizens Coinage Advisory Committee.
Reverse inscriptions will continue to include "United States of America," "E Pluribus Unum," and "One Cent." The 2009 Abraham Lincoln one-cent coins will maintain the same metal content (2.5% Copper, Balance Zinc) and
other specifications as the current penny.
These coins will be issued for circulation in quantities to meet the needs of the United States—both for commerce and for collectors. In addition, the Secretary of the Treasury has the authority to mint and issue numismatic one-cent coins in 2009 with the exact metallic content as contained in the 1909 one-cent coin (95% Copper, 5% Tin and Zinc). These numismatic versions will be included in the United States Mint’s annual product offerings.
At the conclusion of the 2009 Lincoln One-cent Redesign Program, the 2010 (and beyond) one-cent coin will feature a reverse design that will be emblematic of President Lincoln's preservation of the United States of America as a single and united country.
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