2009 Lincoln Bicentennial Cent (Formative Years)

United States · 2009

A standard US cent featuring the standard portrait of Abraham Lincoln on the obverse and a unique reverse depicting Lincoln as a young man reading while taking a break from rail-splitting.

Country: United States
Year: 2009
Denomination: One Cent ($0.01)
Metal: 97.5% Zinc, 2.5% Copper

This report is AI-generated and can be wrong. Always verify grade, authenticity, and value with a qualified dealer or certified grading service before buying, selling, or insuring.

Identified August 29, 2026More united states coins →

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Overview

A standard US cent featuring the standard portrait of Abraham Lincoln on the obverse and a unique reverse depicting Lincoln as a young man reading while taking a break from rail-splitting.

Historical significance

Issued in 2009 to commemorate the bicentennial of Abraham Lincoln's birth and the 100th anniversary of the Lincoln cent. Four different reverse designs were released in 2009 representing different stages of his life.

Obverse (front)

The bust of President Abraham Lincoln facing right, with the inscriptions 'IN GOD WE TRUST' above, 'LIBERTY' to the left, and the year '2009' to the right. Designed by Victor D. Brenner.

Reverse (back)

Depicts a young Abraham Lincoln sitting on a log, reading a book while taking a break from splitting logs with an axe. Inscribed with 'UNITED STATES OF AMERICA', 'ONE CENT', and 'E PLURIBUS UNUM'. Designed by Charles L. Vickers.

Estimated value

$0.10 to $0.50 in circulated condition; $1.00 to $5.00 in Mint State uncirculated condition.

What drives this coin's value

Overall condition (presence of scratches, post-mint damage, or corrosion), grade, and whether it is part of a complete 4-design 2009 set in high uncirculated grades.

Grade assessment

About Uncirculated (AU) to Mint State (MS), though the obverse features distinct post-mint damage (puncture marks near the eye).

Mintage & rarity

Common; hundreds of millions were produced across Philadelphia and Denver mints.

Authenticity & counterfeit red flags

Counterfeiting modern US cents is exceptionally rare due to their low face value and massive mintage. Watch for post-mint damage such as the puncture marks seen on this specimen.

Notable varieties & errors

Double die obverse and reverse varieties exist for some 2009 issues, though most are common business strikes.

Similar coins

Other Lincoln cent designs from 2009 (Birthplace, Professional Life, Presidency) and standard modern Union Shield cents.

Care & preservation

Handle by the edges using clean cotton gloves if uncirculated. Store in a cool, dry place in archival-safe flips, holders, or albums. Avoid cleaning to preserve numismatic value.