Lincoln Formative Years Rolls Back on Sale

Following nearly a two week hiatus, two-roll sets of the second redesigned 2009 Lincoln Formative Years Cent, also known as the Rail Splitter penny, went back on sale at the US Mint.

The set with 50 coins from Philadelphia and 50 coins from Denver was first offered May 14 for $8.95 each. Prior to the Aug. 13 launch of the third Lincoln Professional Life Cent, the US Mint listed the Formative Years rolls as sold out and placed them on its "No Longer Available" page.

At the time, the latest Mint sales report had shown 300,246 of the two-roll sets were sold. A week later, the total was revised lower to 300,000, resulting in speculation that the Mint may cap sales of the third and fourth penny rolls at the same level.

The newest sales figures released by the Mint (with an as of date of Sunday, Aug. 23) show 296,000 of the sets have been purchased — another revised downward total, with perhaps collector returns as an explanation for the change.

Will the Mint stop offering the rolls again when 300,000 is reached or continue selling them infinitum?

For more information or to order, go to the Mint’s web site at:

Lincoln Cent Two-Roll Sets

Orders may also be placed over the phone by calling the Mint’s toll-free number at 1-800-USA-MINT.

According to the Mint web site, both Lincoln Formative Years and Professional Life rolls will not be shipped until Sept. 1, 2009.