Lincoln Bicentennial Cent

The Lincoln Bicentennial Cent is a special one-year series of one-cent coins issued in 2009 to mark the 200th anniversary of Abraham Lincoln's birth and the 100th anniversary of the Lincoln cent itself. It retains Victor David Brenner's familiar right-facing Lincoln portrait on the obverse but replaces the long-running reverse with four different designs, each depicting a stage of Lincoln's life. The coin shown here pairs the standard Lincoln profile with the Birthplace design featuring a log cabin.

Because the four reverses were released in sequence through 2009, the series is one of the most recognizable modern U.S. cents. The obverse carries the usual legends IN GOD WE TRUST, LIBERTY, and the date, while E PLURIBUS UNUM appears with the reverse design as part of the commemorative program.

Struck for circulation in copper-plated zinc, these cents entered everyday commerce and remain very common. They are collected as an affordable, attractive modern set rather than as scarce rarities.

The Lincoln cent debuted in 1909 on the centennial of Lincoln's birth, the first regular U.S. coin to bear the likeness of a real person. A century later, Congress authorized a 2009 commemorative program that issued four distinct reverse designs during that single year to honor the bicentennial of his birth.

The four reverses trace Lincoln's life: his birthplace in Kentucky (shown by a log cabin), his formative years in Indiana, his professional life in Illinois, and his presidency in Washington, D.C. The log cabin design pictured here represents the Birthplace, the first of the four reverses. After 2009 the reverse changed again, to the Union Shield design used from 2010 onward.

Coins for circulation were made at the Philadelphia and Denver mints in the standard copper-plated zinc composition. Separately, the Mint produced special collector versions in the original 95% copper alloy for coin sets, so composition depends on how a given piece was issued.

The obverse is the standard Lincoln cent: Abraham Lincoln facing right, with LIBERTY to the left, IN GOD WE TRUST along the top, and the date 2009 to the right. That 2009 date is the key identifier, because only cents dated 2009 belong to the bicentennial series.

The coin is identified as the Birthplace variety by its reverse, which shows a small log cabin along with UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, E PLURIBUS UNUM, and the denomination ONE CENT. The reverse is not visible in this photo, but a 2009-dated Lincoln cent with a log cabin reverse is the Birthplace design. The other three 2009 reverses show a young Lincoln reading, Lincoln as a rail-splitter in Illinois, and the U.S. Capitol.

The coin is a small cent about 19 mm in diameter. Circulation strikes are copper-plated zinc weighing about 2.5 grams, while special collector-set strikes in 95% copper weigh about 3.1 grams. A mint mark under the date reads D for Denver or is absent for Philadelphia.

The Lincoln Bicentennial Cent is extremely common and most circulated examples are worth only face value or a small premium. Hundreds of millions were struck across the four designs, so worn coins pulled from pocket change carry little collector value on their own.

Value rises mainly with condition. Bright, uncirculated coins with full original color, and especially high-grade certified examples, can bring modest premiums, and complete sets of all four designs from both mints are popular but inexpensive. The 95% copper collector-set versions are worth slightly more because of their special composition and finish.

As a base-metal modern coin, it has no bullion value, and there are no widely recognized rare dates in the ordinary circulation issues. Reported high prices almost always reflect top-grade certified pieces or documented mint errors rather than typical examples.