Lincoln Bicentennial Proof Set

It's not gold or silver but it is proof.  The Lincoln Bicentennial One Cent Proof Set goes on sale tomorrow. The reverse has a scene symbolic of Lincoln's life.  The themes are: Birth; Formative Years; Professional Life and Presidency.

Lincoln Bicentennial Penny: The Presidential Years

The fourth and last in a series of Lincoln Bicentennial Pennies.  It is the not yet completed Capitol Dome.

Why does the penny show an unfinished dome? From the U.S. Mint:
"It was in front of the rising dome that Lincoln began his Presidency and under the completed dome that his body lay in state..."

Lincoln Bicentennial Penny: The Professional Years

This coin commemorates Lincoln's professional life in Illinois.

His office in Springfield is still standing and has been restored.

Lincoln Bicentennial Penny: The Formative Years

This penny represents Lincoln's formative years according to the US Mint. There is a National Park in Indiana commemorating Lincoln's time there.

Lincoln Bicentennial Penny: Birth and Early Childhood

The infamous log cabin.  The Lincoln Birthplace National Park has a replica.

On This Day In 1905

Mint employee George Edward Adams was arrested for stealing gold from deposits awaiting assay.  He was arrested in Seattle and would pose as a prospector and sell the gold in San Francisco.

Zachary Taylor $1 Coin Releases Tomorrow

Religionists got the U.S. Mint to move "In God We Trust" to the front of the coin.  Apparently it was the work of Satan to have it on the reverse.

Happy Birthday, Oklahoma!

102 years ago today Oklahoma was admitted to the Union.

On This Day In 1990

President George H. W. Bush signed the Silver Proof Set law.

On This Day in 1790

Letitia Tyler was born.  Her Presidential Spouse coin was released this year on July 2nd.  The half ounce gold coin is still available for around $700. If that is out of your budget there is a non-proof bronze medal available for $3.50 as well.

Lincoln Bicentennial Penny: Presidency

Two rolls of uncirculated pennies, one from Philadelphia and one from Denver will be released for sale tomorrow at Noon E.S.T.

On This Day In 1907

President Theodore Roosevelt wrote in a letter about "In God We Trust"

My own feeling in the matter is due to my very firm conviction that to put such a motto on coins, or to use it in any kindred manner, not only does no good but does positive harm, and is in effect irreverence, which comes dangerously close to sacrilege...It is a motto which it is indeed well to have inscribed on our great national monuments, in our temples of justice, in our legislative halls, and in building such as those at West Point and Annapolis -- in short, wherever it will tend to arouse and inspire a lofty emotion in those who look thereon. But it seems to me eminently unwise to cheapen such a motto by use on coins, just as it would be to cheapen it by use on postage stamps, or in advertisements.

Happy Birthday, Montana!

November 8th, 1889

On This Day In 1916

The first woman was elected to Congress on Nov 7, 1916 representing Montana. Jeannette Rankin, a Republican, lobbied for health care and was a pacifist.

On This Day In 2000

The United States Mint Numismatic Coin Clarification Act of 2000 allowed inclusion of the "golden" $1 coins in the Silver Proof set.  Apparently there wouldn't have been any silver proof sets that year if the amendment hadn't passed.

On This Day In 1872

Susan B. Anthony voted in the Presidential election on Nov 5th, 1872 which led to the charges of illegal voting against her. Coincidentally, Nov 5th 1999 was when the U.S. Mint lifted the order limits on the Susan B. Anthony Dollar Proof and Uncirculated sets.

On This Day In 1842

This is the year of the Lincoln Bicentennial.  He married Mary Todd on Nov. 4th, 1842.

On This Day in 2008

The final State Quarter - Hawaii - was released.

2009 Is Drawing To A Close

After the 50 states quarter collection comes the D.C. and territories collection.  The Washington D.C. quarter has Duke Ellington on the reverse.  That will be a winning trivia question.

This set is probably going to be hard to find in a few years.  If nothing else it will be valuable to students wanting to learn the names of U.S. territories: Puerto Rico, Guam, American Samoa, the U.S. Virgin Islands and the Northern Mariana Islands.  I must admit even I forgot about the Northern Mariana Islands.