Lincoln Bicentennial Cents

In 2009, the United States Mint issued four special reverse designs to commemorate the 200th anniversary of Abraham Lincoln’s birth. These Bicentennial cents retained Victor David Brenner’s original obverse portrait while introducing four rotating reverse designs representing different stages of Lincoln’s life: his Kentucky birthplace, formative years in Indiana, professional life in Illinois, and presidency in Washington, D.C.

All 2009 cents struck for circulation were produced in the modern copper-plated zinc composition (97.5% zinc with 2.5% copper plating). However, special collector versions were also issued in a 95% copper alloy, matching the original 1909 composition, and were sold in Mint sets. This return to a high-copper composition made the collector strikes especially appealing to enthusiasts.

Because of the four unique reverse designs and dual compositions, the 2009 issues created a short but highly collectible transitional year within the Lincoln cent series.