Mint News Blog

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Thursday, January 29, 2009

2009 Lincoln Commemorative Silver Dollar

The United States Mint will release the 2009 Abraham Lincoln Commemorative Silver Dollar on February 12, 2009. This date will also mark the 200th aniversary of Lincoln's birth and the release date for the first 2009 Lincoln Cent design. While the commemorative coin's designs and release date had been known previously, there is some new information regarding price and ordering options.

The 2009 Lincoln Commemorative will be offered in both proof and uncirculated versions with a combined maximum authorized mintage of 500,000 coins. According to a recent article from Coin World, the proof coins will be priced at $37.95 and the uncirculated coins will be priced at $31.95. These prices will apply for coins ordered during the pre-issue discount period (February 12 - March 26, 2009). There will be an initial household limit of 100, each for proof and uncirculated coins.

This pricing actually represents a decrease from last year's pricing level for silver dollar commemoratives. The 2008 Bald Eagle Commemorative Silver Dollars were priced at $39.95 and $35.95 during the pre-issue discount period.

The US Mint will reserve 50,000 coins from the 500,000 maximum authorized mintage for inclusion within a special set. This set will feature proof versions of all four 2009 Lincoln Cents and the proof version of the 2009 Lincoln Commemorative. This set has not been listed on the US Mint's product release schedule, but should be available in the spring.


In my opinion, the 2009 Lincoln Commemorative will be popular and has the potential for a sell out. Lincoln is a well known historical figure, which usually bolsters commemorative coin sales. The release of the four newly designed 2009 Lincoln Cents should also serve to build collector and even mainstream awareness of the commemorative coin. Lastly, if the unavailability of the 2009-W Uncirculated Silver Eagles and 2009 Proof Silver Eagles continues, collectors may opt to purchase silver coins from the US Mint's commemorative programs.

The last commemorative silver dollar to sell out was the 2006 Benjamin Franklin Commemorative. Prior to that was the 2001 American Buffalo Commemorative Silver Dollar. Last year's 2008 Bald Eagle Commemorative Silver Dollar came close with total combined sales across all product options of 415,122 out of a maximum 500,000.

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11 Comments:

At January 29, 2009 at 9:00 AM , Blogger Unknown said...

Well, he is not as hideous in this image as the portraits on the presidential golden dollars. It even looks like he is cracking a bit of a smile. That said, the reverse is uninspired and boring.

 
At January 29, 2009 at 10:58 AM , Anonymous Anonymous said...

Gentlemen, imagine my surprise reading your description of a CoinWorld description regarding the coming issue of a set of a Lincoln Proof commemorative silver dollar and four proof Lincoln pennies for 2009 when in my hand I have a letter from the UIS Mint dated October 10, 2008 answering my query about just such a set. "...there are no plans to offer the 2009 United States Mint pennies in a proof set."
Is CoinWorld positive about this coming proof set?

 
At January 29, 2009 at 11:08 AM , Blogger Mint News Blog said...

It's in the February 2 issue, page 5. Unfortunately this article is not available online unless you have a subscription.

Coin World said it is according to "U.S. Mint officials" who described the set on Jan 15.

 
At January 30, 2009 at 7:27 AM , Blogger Mint News Blog said...

And here's the US Mint's press release confirming:

http://www.usmint.gov/pressroom/index.cfm?flash=no&action=press_release&ID=986

 
At January 30, 2009 at 2:23 PM , Anonymous Anonymous said...

Wow.37.95 four four pennies.What a great deal.I'll take ten.Thank you very much.Not.Actually I'll wait and snipe one off ebay for 10.00 bucks.And find an error and make 100.00 bucks.

 
At January 30, 2009 at 3:19 PM , Blogger Mint News Blog said...

$37.95 is for the Commemorative Silver Dollar.

The four 2009-S Lincoln Cents are available as part of a set together with the proof commemorative silver dollar. The price for the set has not yet been announced.

The four pennies aren't being sold by the US Mint in any separate set... so far.

 
At January 31, 2009 at 2:56 PM , Anonymous Anonymous said...

Does anyone know how much silver is in Lincoln Silver Dollar?

 
At February 3, 2009 at 10:25 AM , Anonymous Anonymous said...

My understanding is the Lincoln Commemorative Dollar is exactly the same composition, size and weight of the Morgan Dollar, which is 90% Silver, which means just over 3/4 of an ounce of pure silver in each coin. Also, regarding the Proof Pennies to be released in the spring, I THINK those are special composition pennies, not the usual copper coated zinc. If I've read up on it correctly, the 4 pennies are to be made of the same composition as the 1909 penny, so mostly copper. And I THINK those same pennies are what will be included in the 2009 Proof Sets.

 
At February 11, 2009 at 11:47 AM , Blogger Padawan said...

Hi Michael

Do you know the percentage of silver in this coin? Thanks.

 
At February 11, 2009 at 11:50 AM , Blogger Mint News Blog said...

The composition is 90% silver and 10% copper. The weight is 26.73 grams.

 
At April 11, 2009 at 12:39 PM , Anonymous Richard said...

I received one proof coin in late March, we liked them, so we ordered three more and was notified by the mint that they are being shipped.

 

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