2009-S Formative Years Lincoln Cent Proof
Proof struck at the San Francisco Mint · 2,995,615 made
- Mintage
- 2,995,615
- Metal
- 97.5% zinc core, 2.5% copper plating
- Weight
- 2.5 g
- Diameter
- 19.05 mm
Original illustration. Tap to flip. Not a photograph of the actual coin.
Face value · Metal value · Small premium · Collector premium · Significant rarity. We use bands because prices change daily.
What is a 2009-S Formative Years Lincoln Cent Proof worth?
Age alone gives this coin a small premium, even worn. Sharp details and original surfaces push it higher.
What would make yours worth more:
- Grade and, for proofs, strong cameo contrast
- A die variety or minting error
For market prices, check recent sold results for certified coins in the same grade.
Quick answers
- Is the 2009-S Formative Years Lincoln Cent Proof rare?
- Not especially. The Mint made 2,995,615 for collectors. Most were kept in their original packaging.
- Where is the mint mark on a 2009 Lincoln Bicentennial Cent?
- On the obverse, below the date. Philadelphia cents have no mint mark. On this coin the mark is S, for San Francisco.
- How many 2009-S Formative Years Lincoln Cent proofs were made?
- 2,995,615.
What to check on your 2009-S
- Make sure the mint mark really is an S. A worn or filled mark can be misread. It's what separates your coin from the 2009-D (364 million made).
- Judge the grade under good light. Modern cents are judged mainly by surface quality and luster. Look for a full, crisp design and the absence of spots or zinc "bubbling" under the plating.
Proofs from 2009 come with and without frosted devices. Coins with strong contrast are labeled Cameo or Deep Cameo and are worth more.
The story of the 2009-S Formative Years
Four reverses for the Lincoln bicentennial (2009)
In 2009 the Mint marked the 200th anniversary of Lincoln's birth and the centennial of the Lincoln cent with four reverse designs released in sequence. Birthplace shows his log cabin in Kentucky, Formative Years shows a young Lincoln reading on a log in Indiana, Professional Life shows him before the Illinois State Capitol in Springfield and Presidency shows the unfinished Capitol dome in Washington. The first design was released on February 12, Lincoln's birthday.
Circulating cents were copper-plated zinc, while collector coins in mint and proof sets were struck in the 95 percent copper alloy used for the original 1909 cent. Mintages were low compared with earlier years, especially for Presidency, at 129.6 million from Philadelphia. The Formative Years has several doubled die varieties. Coins from rolls are bright, but plating spots and wear develop quickly.
Elsewhere in US coinage in 2009
Four special reverse designs marked the bicentennial of Lincoln's birth on the cent. Quarters honored the District of Columbia and five US territories. The Native American dollar began a new reverse each year.
How to recognize it
The Formative Years design
The second of the 2009 Lincoln cents shows a young Abraham Lincoln seated on a log, reading a book while taking a break from splitting rails. The scene represents his years in Indiana, where his family moved in 1816 and where he largely educated himself by reading whatever books he could find. Charles Vickers both designed and sculpted the reverse. Lincoln lived in Indiana until 1830.
The Lincoln Bicentennial Cent design
Four reverses in 2009 traced Lincoln's life: the log cabin where he was born in Kentucky, young Lincoln reading on a log in Indiana, Lincoln as a lawyer standing before the Illinois State Capitol and the half-finished Capitol dome in Washington during his presidency. The obverse kept the standard Lincoln portrait.
Mintage chart
Specifications
| Series | Lincoln Bicentennial Cent (2009–2009) |
|---|---|
| Year | 2009 |
| Mint | San Francisco Mint |
| Mint mark | "S" |
| Strike type | Proof |
| Mintage | 2,995,615 |
| Face value | 1¢ |
| Composition | 97.5% zinc core, 2.5% copper plating |
| Weight | 2.5 grams |
| Diameter | 19.05 mm |
| Edge | Plain |
| Designer | Four reverse designs by Richard Masters, Charles Vickers, Joel Iskowitz and Susan Gamble |
Other 2009 Lincoln Bicentennial Cent issues
Mintage: Lincoln cent mintage figures (Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0), compiled from US Mint records and the Guide Book of United States Coins. How we build these pages.