Lincoln Cents To End?

You know, Amazon, that's a great idea. I'd love to see the likeness of Tom Hanks on a cent.

Ok this is taken straight from the bill passed by congress regarding the pres dollars, and first spouse. The Lincoln Cent changes are in the same bill. Cut pasted...

TITLE III--ABRAHAM LINCOLN BICENTENNIAL 1-CENT COIN REDESIGN

SEC. 301. <<NOTE: 31 USC 5112 note.>> FINDINGS.

Congress finds the following:
(1) Abraham Lincoln, the 16th President, was one of the
Nation's greatest leaders, demonstrating true courage during the
Civil War, one of the greatest crises in the Nation's history.
(2) Born of humble roots in Hardin County (present-day LaRue
County), Kentucky, on February 12, 1809, Abraham Lincoln rose to
the Presidency through a combination of honesty, integrity,
intelligence, and commitment to the United States.
(3) With the belief that all men are created equal, Abraham
Lincoln led the effort to free all slaves in the United States.
(4) Abraham Lincoln had a generous heart, with malice toward
none, and with charity for all.
(5) Abraham Lincoln gave the ultimate sacrifice for the
country he loved, dying from an assassin's bullet on April 15,
1865.
(6) All Americans could benefit from studying the life of
Abraham Lincoln, for Lincoln's life is a model for accomplishing
the ``American dream'' through honesty, integrity, loyalty, and
a lifetime of education.
(7) The year 2009 will be the bicentennial anniversary of
the birth of Abraham Lincoln.
(8) Abraham Lincoln was born in Kentucky, grew to adulthood
in Indiana, achieved fame in Illinois, and led the nation in
Washington, D.C.

[[Page 119 STAT. 2674]]

(9) The so-called ``Lincoln cent'' was introduced in 1909 on
the 100th anniversary of Lincoln's birth, making the obverse
design the most enduring on the nation's coinage.
(10) President Theodore Roosevelt was so impressed by the
talent of Victor David Brenner that the sculptor was chosen to
design the likeness of President Lincoln for the coin, adapting
a design from a plaque Brenner had prepared earlier.
(11) In the nearly 100 years of production of the ``Lincoln
cent'', there have been only 2 designs on the reverse: the
original, featuring 2 wheat-heads in memorial style enclosing
mottoes, and the current representation of the Lincoln Memorial
in Washington, D.C.
(12) On the occasion of the bicentennial of President
Lincoln's birth and the 100th anniversary of the production of
the Lincoln Cent, it is entirely fitting to issue a series of 1-
cent coins with designs on the reverse that are emblematic of
the 4 major periods of President Lincoln's life.

SEC. 302. <<NOTE: 31 USC 5112 note.>> REDESIGN OF Lincoln Cent FOR 2009.

(a) In General.--During the year 2009, the Secretary of the Treasury
shall issue 1-cent coins in accordance with the following design
specifications:
(1) <<NOTE: Victor David Brenner.>> Obverse.--The obverse of
the 1-cent coin shall continue to bear the Victor David Brenner
likeness of President Abraham Lincoln.
(2) Reverse.--The reverse of the coins shall bear 4
different designs each representing a different aspect of the
life of Abraham Lincoln, such as--
(A) his birth and early childhood in Kentucky;
(B) his formative years in Indiana;
(C) his professional life in Illinois; and
(D) his presidency, in Washington, D.C.

(b) Issuance of Redesigned Lincoln Cents in 2009.--
(1) Order.--The 1-cent coins to which this section applies
shall be issued with 1 of the 4 designs referred to in
subsection (a)(2) beginning at the start of each calendar
quarter of 2009.
(2) Number.--The Secretary shall prescribe, on the basis of
such factors as the Secretary determines to be appropriate, the
number of 1-cent coins that shall be issued with each of the
designs selected for each calendar quarter of 2009.

(c) Design Selection.--The designs for the coins specified in this
section shall be chosen by the Secretary--
(1) after consultation with the Abraham Lincoln Bicentennial
Commission and the Commission of Fine Arts; and
(2) after review by the Citizens Coinage Advisory Committee.

SEC. 303. <<NOTE: 31 USC 5112 note.>> REDESIGN OF REVERSE OF 1-CENT
COINS AFTER 2009.

The design on the reverse of the 1-cent coins issued after December
31, 2009, shall bear an image emblematic of President Lincoln's
preservation of the United States of America as a single and united
country.

SEC. 304. <<NOTE: 31 USC 5112 note.>> NUMISMATIC PENNIES WITH THE SAME
METALLIC CONTENT AS THE 1909 PENNY.

The Secretary of the Treasury shall issue 1-cent coins in 2009 with
the exact metallic content as the 1-cent coin contained in

[[Page 119 STAT. 2675]]

1909 in such number as the Secretary determines to be appropriate for
numismatic purposes.

SEC. 305. <<NOTE: 31 USC 5112 note.>> SENSE OF THE CONGRESS.

It is the sense of the Congress that the original Victor David
Brenner design for the 1-cent coin was a dramatic departure from
previous American coinage that should be reproduced, using the original
form and relief of the likeness of Abraham Lincoln, on the 1-cent coins
issued in 2009.

Sorry its so long but yea that explains it all.

I agree with the general content of the "cut, and psate". I think Abraham Lincoln is the MOST representative president of the US. None have given this country as much as he did. Change the rev, all you want, but leave the OBV as is. DEFINITELY non of the 3/4 front face FREAK views loke the 2007 nickel! I won't save them because they are too ugly! I know there are those of you who might take offense, but There has to be a limit to how much they modify a profile, like from majestic, to ludicrus! IMHO.
Dick

With the nickel they should have used the original 1937 design for it, it looked more like Jefferson anyway. I don't like the new nickels either.

They'll probably go to copper-plated steel, which is what we have here in Canada. It doesn't feel the same, nor does it sound the same when dropped, but it is much cheaper. Again, I don't think the problem is the material the coins are made of, it's that the actual value of the penny has gotten to the point it is worthless. Once upon a time, you could actually buy something for a penny. Now, a penny needs to be combined with others to make it actually worth something tangible.

quote:

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Imagine how much more people will be paying for the same stuff if everyone rounded up because there was no more cent.

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They have done some studies on that and they estimate that for the typical person making an average number of purchases per year, if every rounding went against him for the maximum amount it would come to about $40 per year.

I am not shaking in my boots.

As a circulating coin the penny is only received in change. I hardly see any people using pennies to pay cashiers.

I am really looking forward to this change, Lincoln cents have been the main collection for me so I will be very excited to see whats to come. Just hoping they dont do a huge amount of varieties. Read someone who suggested that there could be alot of different coins if you take into account one of each 4 designs in business strike from P and D mints, one of each composition in a proof set, and then one of each composition in mint sets. I really doubt the mint will go that far tho but you never know. Seems more realistic for the mint sets and proof sets to have the "original composition" and then the business strikes to use the normal zincoln or possibly whatever the new composition they are working on for it is going to be. Regardless I cant wait for 2009 and I know that this will bring a nice value jump to the entire series in some fashion.

Steve