New Penny Design

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It might be just me, but I feel that the the glorification of Lincoln is quite disturbing.

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I used to feel a little that way myself, having grown up in Illinois where Honest Abe and his deeds are spoon fed to every school child ad nauseum, but having studied our history more thoroughly since then, I've come to think that Lincoln deserves what he gets. He did save the union, and it is the union that makes us what we are. It's certainly possible that whoever was at the helm when the ship of state needed saving might have done the same thing, but since it was Lincoln, let's let him have the glory.

Besides, I'd rather glorify Abe Lincoln than some recent presidents, whom history will judge correctly as extremely poor and maybe even dangerous leaders.

Jan

I think President Lincoln deserves all the credit he gets, I thinks he deserves more. I think as a President he was a very close second to Washington. If not for Lincoln some coin collectors would be collecting Jefferson Davis cents.

I like the new coin ideas, I agree with janknez the more the merrier.

G'day JHS: "Confederate currency is highly collectible." - indeed it is, but not a lot of it was minted after 1865.
It would be interesting to know what discussions preceded the introduction of the Lincoln Cent in 1909: there would have been plenty of survivors still alive, and feelings would still have been quite raw.
Peter in Oz
(born in a city visited by the C.S.S. Shenandoah)

One Red Cent, I am in complete agreement with you on the original reverse. I wrote the director of the mint about two years ago suggesting that option--naturally, no reply-- even if it was a coin for collectors only and not released for circulation. Another thing which should be done is to restore the portrait of Lincoln to the original concept. Whats this you say? Compare a 1909 high grade cent with a recent cent and the recent portrait is almost a caricature of the original.

Lincoln, Washington, Franklin-- All these men were good men, who did good for their country, but they were men, frail and flawed as men are. What we honor is their contributions and the ideals they represent, whether they were as great as we'd like to think or not. Lincoln represent honesty and unity.

He is the national representation of such. We don't want to worship men, but aspire to ideals. I think this is one of the reasons there is a federal law against putting a live president's image on a coin-- then there is danger in confusing admiration of an ideal with worship of a man.

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Lincoln, Washington, Franklin-- All these men were good men, who did good for their country, but they were men, frail and flawed as men are. What we honor is their contributions and the ideals they represent, whether they were as great as we'd like to think or not. Lincoln represent honesty and unity.

He is the national representation of such. We don't want to worship men, but aspire to ideals. I think this is one of the reasons there is a federal law against putting a live president's image on a coin-- then there is danger in confusing admiration of an ideal with worship of a man.

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VERY well said.

Justcarl said:
I've heard that after the 2009 the Government is considering putting Bush's head on the Cent. I know everyone will say that is for decessed presidents only. So is that a problem for the CIA then?"
Seems to me that it is a good possibility, the "dead presidents". His head is on the "chopping block", as we speak, so who can say he will not be "dead", even if he is actually "dead in the water"?
The possibility of a return for the 2009 cent, to the original alloy, will make it so heavily sought after, that it will not very likely survive, to see actual circulation as "another cent", no matter what the cost to mint it.
Dick