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2009 marks the bicentennial (200th anniversary) of Abraham Lincoln’s birth.
To honor this special occasion, the United States Mint is striking 2009 Lincoln pennies with 4 different reverse designs.
The 4 reverse designs depict Lincoln’s life and career. The 4 designs are being struck in intervals to be released throughout 2009.
Here’s more about the Lincoln log cabin penny, the first 2009 Lincoln penny to be released...
The Lincoln Log Cabin Penny
The first of these 4 designs is a reverse design which honors Lincoln’s early years in Kentucky.
The design depicts a modest, one-room log cabin — the place where Lincoln was born and raised during his early childhood.
2009 Lincoln Log Cabin Penny Value
At the time of this writing, log cabin pennies struck for circulation are worth face value if worn.
Lincoln log cabin pennies sell for roughly 10 to 25 cents if bought uncirculated from a coin dealer.
No special or significant errors have been identified yet.
Lincoln Log Cabin Cent’s Composition
Some of the 2009 Lincoln pennies will be struck from the same composition as pennies struck in 1909, the first year the Lincoln cent was made.
These special pennies will be 95% copper and 5% tin and zinc; they can be found in 2009 proof and mint sets, which are produced and sold by the U.S. Mint.
In fact, for most of the 20th century, the Lincoln penny contained mostly copper. However, as the price of copper rose, replacing the mainly copper penny with a cheaper metal content became necessary.
After experimenting with aluminum and other materials during the 1970s, the U.S. Mint struck the first 97.5% zinc penny in 1982.
Now, Lincoln pennies struck for circulation contain only a thin outer coating of copper. That means only 2.5% of the penny is actual copper.
How To Obtain The 2009 Log Cabin Penny
The Lincoln log cabin penny is entering circulation by the millions. If it has not turned up in your pocket change yet, it should soon.
If you cannot find any log cabin pennies in your pocket change, be sure to stop by your local bank. There is a good chance your bank already has rolls of the new Lincoln log cabin pennies available.
You can also buy the new log cabin penny from coin dealers. Many coin dealers have been offering the Lincoln log cabin penny for sale individually and by the roll.
Finally, you can always buy new United States coins directly from the source: the U.S. Mint.
2009 Log Cabin Cent Design
The Lincoln log cabin design has excited the nation’s active and passive coin collectors alike. When the log cabin penny was released on February 12th, 2009, a major ceremony was held in Hodgenville, Kentucky.
It was there that U.S. Mint Director Andy Brunhart and Kentucky Governor Steven L. Beshear celebrated the release of the log cabin penny by giving thousands to children at a presentation at LaRue County High School.
The log cabin penny was conceptualized by Richard Masters, who is a master designer in the United States Mint’s Artistic Infusion Program. The design was sculpted by Jim Licaretz, a United States Mint sculptor-engraver.
RELATED:
- U.S. Mint: 2009 Lincoln One-Cent Redesign
- Penny Days: Lincoln And His Cents
- U.S. Mint Announces 2009 Penny Sales
- Lincoln Silver Dollar & Cent Rolls Sell Out
My love for coins began when I was 11 years old. I primarily collect and study U.S. coins produced during the 20th century. I'm a member of the American Numismatic Association (ANA) and the Numismatic Literary Guild (NLG) and have won multiple awards from the NLG for my work as a coin journalist. I'm also the editor at CDN Publishing (a trusted source for the price of U.S. rare coins), editor at the Florida United Numismatists Club (FUN Topics magazine), and author of Images of America: The United States Mint in Philadelphia (a book that explores the colorful history of the Philadelphia Mint). I've contributed hundreds of articles for various coin publications including COINage, The Numismatist, Numismatic News, Coin Dealer Newsletter, Coin Values, and CoinWeek. I've also authored nearly 1,000 articles here at The Fun Times Guide to Coins — and I welcome your coin questions in the comments below!
