Archive for the ‘Bicentennial’ Category
Lincoln’s Bicentennial Celebrated
Abraham Lincoln was born on February 12, 1809. The bicentennial or 200th anniversary of his birth took place during the year 2009. To celebrate the event, special coins were issued for circulation and a commemorative coin was issued to collectors. These Congressionally authorized coins provided a reminder of the life and legacy of the 16th President of the United States.
The Lincoln Cent has been issued since 1909. This coin was first introduced to celebrate the centennial or 100th anniversary of Lincoln’s birth. The coin has remained in production and circulation for the ensuing 100 years. It was fitting to celebrate the next century mark with a redesign for the iconic coins. The 2009 Lincoln Cents featured four different reverse designs, each representing a different stage in the life of Abraham Lincoln.
The first design depicts a log cabin and is intended to represent his birthplace and humble childhood upbringing. The second design depicts a young Lincoln taking a break from a job of work splitting logs in order to read a book. The third design shows a young professional Lincoln during his years practicing law. The fourth and final design is a simple depiction of the half completed Capitol Dome.
The new penny designs were released periodically throughout the year during 2009. The first release was scheduled for February 12, 2009, to coincide with the exact 200th anniversary of Lincoln’s birth. The coins were issued for circulation so that the public would be able to find the new coins in change from commercial transactions.
A separate commemorative coin was struck in silver and offered for sale to collectors in limited quantities. The 2009 Lincoln Commemorative Silver Dollar was also released on February 12, 2009, but not put into circulation. Rather the issue represented a legal tender non circulating commemorative that was sold to collectors at a premium price. The obverse of the coin featured a portrait of Lincoln and the reverse featured the closing words of his famous Gettysburg Address.
To top off the celebrations, a final new reverse design was created for the penny. This one focused on his legacy of keeping the United States a single and united country. A depiction of the union shield was used for this purpose. These coins were issued for circulation and the design will be used for the foreseeable future.