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RSS Feed (xml)Thursday’s unveiling of the third of four 2009 commemorative Abraham Lincoln pennies is expected to attract large crowds to the Old State Capitol, where U.S. Mint Director Ed Moy and U.S. Sen. Dick Durbin, D-Ill., will front a 30-minute ceremony beginning at 10 a.m.
The four pennies, introduced this year in honor of Lincoln’s bicentennial, depict different aspects of Lincoln’s life on their backsides. The first two recall Lincoln’s birth in Kentucky and his boyhood in Indiana. The penny unveiled on Thursday represents Lincoln’s professional life as an attorney in Springfield and portrays Lincoln standing in front of the Old State Capitol.
Based on the estimated 3,000 to 4,000 who attended the May unveiling of the second penny in Lincoln City, Ind., Thursday’s ceremony could be packed.
“In Indiana, there were many, many, many people,” said Mint spokeswoman Jana Prewitt. “(The line) was snaked around the park, down the sidewalks and roads leading to the amphitheater and parking lots.”
Each child 18 and younger in attendance Thursday will receive a free Springfield penny. An exchange will be held afterward, when the public will be able to purchase up to three two-roll packs of the new pennies. Each roll contains 50 cents.
The four pennies, introduced this year in honor of Lincoln’s bicentennial, depict different aspects of Lincoln’s life on their backsides. The first two recall Lincoln’s birth in Kentucky and his boyhood in Indiana. The penny unveiled on Thursday represents Lincoln’s professional life as an attorney in Springfield and portrays Lincoln standing in front of the Old State Capitol.
Based on the estimated 3,000 to 4,000 who attended the May unveiling of the second penny in Lincoln City, Ind., Thursday’s ceremony could be packed.
“In Indiana, there were many, many, many people,” said Mint spokeswoman Jana Prewitt. “(The line) was snaked around the park, down the sidewalks and roads leading to the amphitheater and parking lots.”
Each child 18 and younger in attendance Thursday will receive a free Springfield penny. An exchange will be held afterward, when the public will be able to purchase up to three two-roll packs of the new pennies. Each roll contains 50 cents.
The exchange will be dollar for dollar, Prewitt said. The Mint also will sell the pennies online, but at a steeper price. Each two-roll pack — 100 pennies — will sell for $8.95 plus $4.95 for shipping and handling.
“At the events, we do exchanges for the public. Nobody makes any money. It’s an even exchange. But our Web site requires us to process orders and have an ordering infrastructure that is customer-service based,” Prewitt said.
The ceremony is expected to last about 30 minutes. Mayor Tim Davlin and various government officials also are expected to attend. Singer Debbie Ross will perform the National Anthem a cappella. The Lincoln Troubadours also are scheduled to perform. WICS-TV anchor Jerry Lambert will be master of ceremonies.
The fourth Lincoln penny, honoring Lincoln as president, will be unveiled in November at a location still to be determined.
Pete Sherman can be reached at 788-1539.
Thursday events
*At 12:30 p.m., musician Chris Vallillo will perform selections from his new CD “Lincoln in Song.”
*At 2 p.m., Lincoln portrayer Fritz Klein will greet visitors and make speeches.
*The penny’s designer, Joel Iskowitz, will be available at 3 p.m. for autographs at the Old State Capitol, where he’ll deliver a presentation and answer questions. (He will not be able to sign coins or coin rolls).
Penny facts
*The four commemorative Lincoln bicentennial pennies will be made in 2009 only. On the back of each is portrayed a different aspect of Lincoln’s life — his Kentucky birth, Indiana boyhood, career as a Springfield attorney, and as president.
*Roughly 614 million and 695 million of the first and second pennies have been put in circulation.
*The front of the coins will use the image of Lincoln created by Victor David Brenner that has appeared on the penny since 1909.
*The 2009 Lincoln pennies are mostly zinc, but are also 2.5 percent copper — the same as pennies currently in circulation. The U.S. Treasury also will mint one-cent coins with the metallic content of 1909 pennies, which are composed of 95 percent copper and 5 percent tin and zinc.
*The 2010 Lincoln penny will feature a reverse design symbolizing Lincoln’s preservation of the union.
*The federal government has issued a one-cent piece since 1793.
*For more information about the U.S. Mint coins and how to purchase them, visit www.usmint.gov/mint_programs.
“At the events, we do exchanges for the public. Nobody makes any money. It’s an even exchange. But our Web site requires us to process orders and have an ordering infrastructure that is customer-service based,” Prewitt said.
The ceremony is expected to last about 30 minutes. Mayor Tim Davlin and various government officials also are expected to attend. Singer Debbie Ross will perform the National Anthem a cappella. The Lincoln Troubadours also are scheduled to perform. WICS-TV anchor Jerry Lambert will be master of ceremonies.
The fourth Lincoln penny, honoring Lincoln as president, will be unveiled in November at a location still to be determined.
Pete Sherman can be reached at 788-1539.
Thursday events
*At 12:30 p.m., musician Chris Vallillo will perform selections from his new CD “Lincoln in Song.”
*At 2 p.m., Lincoln portrayer Fritz Klein will greet visitors and make speeches.
*The penny’s designer, Joel Iskowitz, will be available at 3 p.m. for autographs at the Old State Capitol, where he’ll deliver a presentation and answer questions. (He will not be able to sign coins or coin rolls).
Penny facts
*The four commemorative Lincoln bicentennial pennies will be made in 2009 only. On the back of each is portrayed a different aspect of Lincoln’s life — his Kentucky birth, Indiana boyhood, career as a Springfield attorney, and as president.
*Roughly 614 million and 695 million of the first and second pennies have been put in circulation.
*The front of the coins will use the image of Lincoln created by Victor David Brenner that has appeared on the penny since 1909.
*The 2009 Lincoln pennies are mostly zinc, but are also 2.5 percent copper — the same as pennies currently in circulation. The U.S. Treasury also will mint one-cent coins with the metallic content of 1909 pennies, which are composed of 95 percent copper and 5 percent tin and zinc.
*The 2010 Lincoln penny will feature a reverse design symbolizing Lincoln’s preservation of the union.
*The federal government has issued a one-cent piece since 1793.
*For more information about the U.S. Mint coins and how to purchase them, visit www.usmint.gov/mint_programs.
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