The coin was discovered by Michigan collector, Michael Tremonti, who was examining two rolls of uncirculated 1969-S cents on October 3. After consulting with well-known error-variety expert, Ken Potter, Tremonti submitted the coin to PCGS. “I was totally amazed that this coin could turn up out of nowhere. The coin is completely original and full mint red. It’s a beautiful near-Gem example,” said David Hall, PCGS co-founder and president of Collectors Universe, Inc.

Tip: Bill Klusaritz

Source: CoinResource

Say hello to the new 2010 Lincoln cent reverse, released by the Mint on February 11, 2010.

Gone is the Lincoln memorial which donned the reverse from 1959–2008, gone are the bicentennial commemorative reverses of 2009, this is it.

From the Mint:

The design depicts a union shield with a scroll draped across and the inscription ONE CENT.  The 13 vertical stripes of the shield represent the states joined in one compact union to support the federal government, represented by the horizontal bar above.  The horizontal bar features the inscription E PLURIBUS UNUM — “out of many, one” — while the inscription UNITED STATES OF AMERICA is depicted along the upper rim of the coin.

In the spring, the United States Mint will offer 2010 Union Shield Cent two roll sets. — one roll from the Philadelphia Mint and one roll from the Denver Mint. The 2010-S Proof Union Shield Cent will be included in the 2010 Proof Set and 2010 Silver Proof Set. Satin finish 2010-P and 2010-D Union Shield Cents will be included in the 2010 Uncirculated Mint Set.

Some complain about the design, but few accept change initially. As for me, I’m a fan. I think that the design is modern and the large elements work especially well on a small coin like the one cent piece.

Specifications

Date: 2010
Mints: Philadelphia, Denver, San Francisco (proof only)
Designers: Victor David Brenner (obverse), Lyndall Bass (reverse)
Composition: 97.5% zinc, 2.5% copper
Weight: 2.50 grams
Diameter: 19 mm

What do you think about the new design?

The United States Mint will begin accepting orders for its 2009 Lincoln Bicentennial One-Cent Proof Set on August 26, 2009, at noon Eastern Time (ET). A household order limit of five sets will be in effect.

The sets, priced at $7.95 each, contain proof versions of the four redesigned one-cent coins struck in honor of the bicentennial of Abraham Lincoln’s birth and the 100th anniversary of the first issuance of the Lincoln cent. The reverse (tails side) bears designs emblematic of Lincoln’s birth and early childhood in Kentucky; his formative years in Indiana; his professional life in Illinois; and his presidency in Washington, D.C. The obverse (heads) features Victor David Brenner’s image of Lincoln that has graced the coin since 1909. These coins contain the exact same metallic content as the 1909 Lincoln Cent – 95 percent copper and five percent tin and zinc.

Source: CoinLink

Update (2009-0902): the Mint Web site lists the proof cent as “backordered” with a shipping date of 11/30/2009.

The United States Mint will begin accepting orders for two-roll sets of one-cent coins bearing the third new reverse design in the 2009 Lincoln Bicentennial One-Cent Coin Program at noon Eastern Time (ET) on August 13, 2009. The coin will honor the 16th President’s professional life in Illinois. The 2009 Lincoln Cent Two-Roll Set – “Professional Life” is priced at $8.95 per set. Orders are limited to five units per household and will be available for a limited time only.

The set contains one roll of 50 coins from the United States Mint at Philadelphia with no mint mark and one roll of 50 coins from the United States Mint at Denver bearing the “D” mint mark. Each roll is packaged in specially designed paper coin wrap that displays the mint of origin, the year and the face value of its contents.

Millions of one-cent coins bearing the “Professional Life” design will be released into general circulation on August 13.

Source: Coin Link

Authorized by Public Law 109-145, the four new designs celebrate the bicentennial of President Abraham Lincoln’s birth, as well as the 100th anniversary of the production of the Lincoln cent (penny).  The new designs will be issued in approximately three-month intervals throughout the year.  The first redesigned penny, which will honor Lincoln’s birth and early childhood, will be put into circulation on February 12, 2009.

Four reverse designs will be released to celebrate the great statesman and U.S. President “Honest Abe” Lincoln. The Lincoln cent’s centennial is also tribute to the coin itself – the most collected coin in the world.

The four designs to be featured on the reverse of the Lincoln pennies represent four major aspects of President Lincoln’s life:  his birth and childhood in Kentucky, his formative years in Indiana, his professional life in Illinois and his Presidency in Washington, D.C.  The inscriptions on the reverse of the coins will be “United States of America,” “E Pluribus Unum” and “One Cent.”

The obverse (heads side) of the one-cent coins will continue to bear Victor David Brenner’s likeness of President Lincoln, introduced in 1909, and the motto “In God We Trust.”  At the end of the 2009 Lincoln Bicentennial One Cent Coin Program, the reverse of the penny will feature a design emblematic of President Lincoln’s preservation of the United States of America as a single and united country.

A Lincoln commemorative silver dollar, authorized by Public Law 109-285, also will be released in 2009.

The designs for the cent are: