Obverse. Photo © NumisCorner.com
  • 1 Cent 2009, KM# 442, United States of America (USA), 200th Anniversary of Birth of Abraham Lincoln, Formative Years in Indiana
  • 1 Cent 2009, KM# 442, United States of America (USA), 200th Anniversary of Birth of Abraham Lincoln, Formative Years in Indiana
Description

In 2009, the US Mint celebrated the bicentennial (200th anniversary) of the birth of US President Abraham Lincoln, as well as the centennial (100th anniversary) of the Lincoln cent itself. Throughout 2009, there was a series of 4 different designs released, which would be displayed on the reverse of the coin. The 4 different varieties on the reverse would show scenes from Abraham Lincoln's life.

The Lincoln cent (commonly known as a penny) is a one-cent coin that has been struck by the United States Mint since 1909 to honor the 100th anniversary of Lincoln's birth. The colloquial term penny derives from the British coin of the same name, the pre-decimal version of which had a similar value.

The Lincoln cent has been issued longer than any other coin in U.S. history and in far greater numbers than any other coin in the history of the world.

Formative Years in Indiana nicknamed the Indiana Penny, was released on May 14, 2009.

Obverse

Abraham Lincoln (the 16th President of the United States, led the United States through its Civil War, abolished slavery) bust right, date lower right. The lettering LIBERTY and the motto IN GOD WE TRUST.

When the Lincoln one-cent coin made its initial appearance in 1909, it was the first regular coin to bear a portrait. In fact, the first President of the United States George Washington is said to have refused to allow his likeness to be incorporated into any coins. He felt, and most agreed for decades, that a portrait of a real individual was too similar to the practice of using images of royalty on coins used by the monarchal governments of Europe. But public sentiment stemming from the 100th-anniversary celebration of Abraham Lincoln's birth proved stronger than the long-standing tradition. The motto In God We Trust appeared for the first time on a coin of this denomination.

The obverse or heads side was designed by Victor David Brenner. Brenner's initials (V.D.B.), on the reverse at its base, were deemed too prominent once the coins were issued and were removed within days of the release. The initials were restored on the bottom sleeve of Abraham Lincoln, this time smaller, on Lincoln's shoulder, in 1918.

IN GOD WE TRUST
LIBERTY
2009
VDB

Reverse

Indiana Penny commemorates the young, formative life of Abraham Lincoln as he lived in Indiana. Depicted on the coin is a young Lincoln sitting on a log, reading and taking a break from rail splitting. Abraham Lincoln was raised in a poor family and was self-educated.

Designer: Charles L. Vickers (CLV)

UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
ONE CENT
CLV
E•PLURIBUS•UNUM

Edge

1 Cent

Lincoln Penny
KM# 442 Schön# 440
Characteristics
Type Commemorative Issue (Circulating)
Material Copper Plated Zinc
Weight 2.5 g
Diameter 19.05 mm
Thickness 1.55 mm
Shape round
Alignment Coin
Alt # KM# 442a
Mints
Denver Mint (D)
Philadelphia Mint (no mintmark)
San Francisco Mint (S)

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