Daily Archives: May 14, 2009

The US Mint officially launched the second redesigned 2009 Lincoln penny in a Charles Vickers design that is now often called the Lincoln Rail Splitter, or the Formative Years cent.

The release ceremony took place in front of an excited crowd in the Lincoln State Park at the Lincoln Amphitheatre in Lincoln City.

"This second design reflects the formative years of Abraham Lincoln's life in Indiana, when he developed the qualities that served as the foundation for his extraordinary life," United States Mint Director Ed Moy said.

Children were the lucky ones at the ceremony. Each received a free, new penny. Everyone else in attendance were able to exchange their currency for a minimum of two rolls and up to six rolls of coins bearing the new design.

Read the rest of this numismatic news article »

Coin collectors have shifted into a lower buying gear during the last several days. While US Mint sales of UHR $20 gold pieces inched, or more aptly millimetered higher, demand fell for Braille Bicentennial Dollars and Puerto Rico quarters.

Ultra High Relief (UHR) $20 gold coins had just come in 27 short of 61,000 in the previous report. That number has been breached, plus 757 more. Sales increased 1.3 percent compared to the prior 1.0 percent rise. As a side note, the Mint increased the UHR price Wednesday by $50 and that is likely to play into next week's sales figures to some degree.

For the second straight time, Braille Bicentennial Dollar sales have declined. However, the newest batch of numbers is down substantially while those from last week remained impressive for a collection of coins that have been on sale since March 26. The tables below shows the tale, but suffice it to say, total new sales were down by more than 75 percent to just 4,617 compared the prior 20,306.

Read the rest of this numismatic news article »