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The 2009 Lincoln Bicentennial One Cent Program brings the life of America's 16th president to this popular circulating coin.  Four different designs make up this series, all produced in 2009, in the order they happened.

• Birth and childhood in Kentucky
• Youth in Indiana
• Professional life in Illinois
• Presidency in Washington, DC

The year 2009 is not only the 200th anniversary of Abraham Lincol's birth, but the 100th anniversary of the Lincoln cent as well, first appearing in 1909.  The Lincoln image will remain on the front of all four cents in the new program.

The circulating version of these coins will use the same standard inscriptions and the same metal content as have been used recently.  A special version of these coins for collectors will also be made.  The coins will look the same, but will contain the metals that were used in the original 1909 cent (95 percent copper, 5 percent tin and zinc) instead of the modern cent's mix (2.5 percent copper, the rest zinc).

After the 2009 Lincoln Bicentennial One-Cent Program ends, the design on the back of the one-cent coin will represent the unity of the states, which President Lincoln worked so hard to restore and preserve.

To find out more about these coins, check out:

• For kids:  the United States Mint H.I.P. Pocket Change™ 2009 Lincoln Cents page.
• For adults:  the 2009 Lincoln Bicentennial One Cent Program information page.

For educators, the United States Mint offers a set of free lesson plans (for Kindergarten through sixth grades) based on the new penny designs.  What a great opportunity to connect history with the coins in the very pockets of your students!

Download these lesson plans!