i was reading about what they would do to the penny in 2009. as i was reading it said that The legislation also requires that the Mint make a Lincoln cent in 2009 in the identical metal content as those of 1909. does this mean that pennys will be made out of the 95% copper 5% zinc compistion? i hope thats the case lol thanks for reading bob
I thnik so, but am not totally sure. I'll leave this to the experts. I can't find much about them though. Phoenix
I think they mint set ones and proof ones will be. I think that is what they meant when they said the numismatic cents. Not so sure. Phoenix
What I have been assuming (possibly incorrectly) is this is something that could come with silver proof sets. So, by ordering the normal proof set...you'd get all 4 Lincoln 2009 cent designs in the zinc composition and by ordering the silver proof set...you'd get all 4 in the original 95% copper composition. Based on the fact that the silver proof sets used the old 90%/10% silver composition, this makes sense to me. But, I have been wrong before. :kewl:
i read some where that 3 cents would be the same as now for circulation and one would be made of the same compusitation as the 1909 for collectors.
I wonder if the regular business strike cents will still be zinc? With prices rising, they might use aluminum or something else cheaper than zinc.
I believe proof and mint sets will have copper cents since both are numismatic collectibles. Unless Congress modifies the U.S Code (which they very well may do), the cent will have only a copper-zinc alloy. However, the Secretary of the Treasury does have authority to reduce the weight of the 1-cent coin.
Done and done. The statute mentioned in cc51's first post specifically provides for use of the original 1909 composition in 2009.
Wow! Awesome! 2009 is going to be a good year. The proofs are going to look gorgeous. For those that want an idea on what the 2009 cents will look like, I was able to find this: Phoenix
Circulation cents will be coated zinc. The copper 2009's should be any cent purchased from the mint as a collectable. SEC. 304. NUMISMATIC PENNIES WITH THE SAME METALLIC CONTENT AS THE 1909 PENNY. The Secretary of the Treasury shall issue 1-cent coins in 2009 with the exact metallic content as the 1-cent coin contained in 1909 in such number as the Secretary determines to be appropriate for numismatic purposes The origional bill also called forthe origional high relief on the copper coins but I don't see it in the law as it was signed.
In a 95/5 alloy as mentioned in the initial post to this thread, not in an all zinc base with a light copper plating.
