Lincoln Rail Splitter Cent Launched
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.
Collectors and the public can now purchase those rolls as well. At noon ET, two-roll sets of the coins became available at the US Mint online store for $8.95.
Before thinking the price is outrageous, consider that all the prior Lincoln coins sold out, to include the first set of rolls featuring the Log cabin design. 96,000 of the those were sold within two weeks. Now the price to purchase them is even higher in the secondary market.
To order the penny rolls, visit the Mint’s online store at:
2009 Lincoln Cent Two-Roll Set "Formative Years"
They are also available by calling the Mint’s toll-free number 1-800-USA-MINT (872-321-MINT (6468).
Expectations are for the two-roll sets to sell out more quickly than the first set, and for the online store to experience extremely heavy traffic during the opening hours.
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May 14th, 2009 at 12:44 pm
Just placed my order with the Mint. Took 2 1/2 hours before catalog was loading, then took nearly 20 minutes after sign in to complete order. WOW!! Was afraid of being auto-logged out. BUT I GOT A CONFIRMATION NUMBER!!!
May 14th, 2009 at 12:55 pm
Chris,
I placed my order as well. I couldn’t believe it, but I forgot my Mint account password. I basically had to go through the process twice! What can you do but laugh at yourself for the stupidity?
While really, really slow when a ton of people are ordering, it seems like the Mint has improved the system to where the time-outs at least don’t occur.
I don’t know about you, but I missed out on the first two-roll sets. I had planed to order and just waited too long. I never expected the Mint would stop selling them in less than two weeks. Lesson learned… no more waiting!
June 22nd, 2009 at 10:11 am
i wonder what they will pay for the new copper pennies
June 22nd, 2009 at 7:44 pm
Do the folks that bought the formative years rolls feel a bit let down by the Mint because of the high availability of the second type over the first? How about the quality issues? I passed on these, because I believe they will be available for years to come. I suppose the error collectors are having a field day with the six fingered Abe’s.
If they offered rolls of the 95% copper, I’d go for that. Hope they can get the spotting issues under control.