The last of the four redesigned 2009 Lincoln Cents is by far the most scarce, final production figures from the United States Mint reveal.
The Denver and Philadelphia Mints struck 198,000,000 and 129,600,000 Presidency cents, respectively, for a total run of 327,600,00. The level is nearly half that of the second least minted penny, the Lincoln Birthplace bearing the log cabin design.
2009-P Lincoln Presidency cents rank as the most scarce of the group, directly followed by the 2009-Ds, as the following table illustrates:
2009 Lincoln Cent Mintages by Design
| Denver | Philadelphia | 2009 Total | |
| Birthplace Cent | 350,400,000 | 284,400,000 | 634,800,000 |
| Formative Years Cent | 363,600,000 | 376,000,000 | 739,600,000 |
| Professional Life Cent | 336,000,000 | 316,000,000 | 652,000,000 |
| Presidency Cent | 198,000,000 | 129,600,000 | 327,600,000 |
| Total | 1,248,000,000 | 1,106,000,000 | 2,354,000,000 |
Despite new designs which are exceedingly popular with coin collectors, their demand in daily commerce is greatly limited due to a barrage of older hoarded coins there were thrown back into circulation. The US recession is to blame, resulting in production cuts across all circulating coins.
The Mint struck 5,419,200,000 cents during 2008. In contrast, penny production last year dwindled to 2,354,000,000.
For interested individuals who can not find Presidency cents in change or at local banks, two-roll sets of them are currently available from the US Mint for a price of $8.95. The sets include one roll of 50 coins struck in Philadelphia and another roll of 50 coins minted at Denver. Each is wrapped with special United States Mint coin paper depicting the new designs, a "P" or "D" representing the roll’s mint of origin and "50¢," representing its face value.
The new 2010 Lincoln cent is expected to launch in February. It features a reverse designed depicting the Union Shield which is "emblematic of President Lincoln’s preservation of the United States of America as a single and united country." The design will be the final for the penny, unless new legislation is introduced, passed and signed into law mandating another change.
