http://www.usmint.gov/pressroom/index.cfm?action=press_release&ID=857 the DC and territories quarters are official http://www.usmint.gov/mint_programs/$1coin/index.cfm and the designs for 2008 presidential dollars are up
Wow, and there were a lot of folks on here saying the whole DC/territories thing would never pass (given the track record of that bill, it's easy to see why). Personally, though, I see it as a good thing. I bet a lot of people don't even realize that we HAVE territories!
So, with the special Lincoln commemorative cent coins, the proof set for 2009 should have, what, 19 coins and the mint sets will have 38? 4 presidential dollars 1 Sacagawea dollar 1 half dollar 6 US territory quarters 1 dime 1 nickel 5 Lincoln cents (regular issue + 4 commemorative designs)
That's because if it had been a bill or an amendment to a bill that was open for debate it wouldn't. Instead it was slipped in, basicly at the last moment into a 3,500 page bill that pretty much had to be passed as a lump on a yes/no vote very quickly so the sSenators and Representative could go home for Christmas break and before the continuing resolution expired which would have shut down the government and laid off all the employees for a month.
Apparently they are planning a cent of the same composition as the original 1909 VDB. Wonder where that will fit in? Will it be the 6th variety?
This is a Golden Age and 2009 will be a banner year long remembered. This hobby suffered LONG enough with the same boring 5 designs for decades, even with the occasional odd sixth dollar coin tossed in.
The 2009 cent will have 4 designs for the year(No lincoln memorial design) They will be done in copper for collectors and coated zinc for circulation. The question is will both compostions be included in mint sets.