You probably know (from reading coin-related newspapers, magazines and/or posts on Coin Talk or other coin chat websites) that four different Lincoln Head Cent reverses will be struck in 2009, BUT, why? Which sentence below is correct? A or B? A. 2009 is the 100th anniversary of the mint's production of the Lincoln Head Cent. B. 2009 is the 200th anniversary of Abraham Lincoln's birth? If you answered A you are half right! If you answered B you are half right! If you decided both A and B was the right answer you are a well-informed coin Collector. Yes both answers are right. This is the first time in U.S.A. numismatic history a circulating coin's design change has two reasons. Read all about it here: http://www.usmint.gov/mint_programs/lincolnRedesign/ Clinker
Being the pessimist I am, I answered "C": The mint realized they could make more money from collectors.
To borgovan: Good to see your comment, but the mint doesn't choose the coins, nor do they extrapolate reasons for striking coins. A congressman initiates a bill, a debate takes place, a vote is taken AND, if the bill gets enough vote support then, it becomes an Act that is presented to the Mint Director and Treasury Secretary who supervise the fulfillment of the Act by assigning the duties to the Mint Superviser, The Act defines the coin, it's reason for implimenting the production of the coin, the amount to be produced and whether circulation coins only are to be struck or proofs or both. Most coin designs (including circulation coin changes) are selected from contestant renderings by a committee. About the only thing the mint does on its own is to select the packaging, determine the selling price and advertise all coins not business strikes (mint sets, proof sets, special sets and single NCLT coins. Clinker
