The 2009 Lincoln Professional Life Cent was struck by the US Mint with a reverse design emblematic of the time the 16th President of the United States lived in Springfield, Illinois. It was released as the third of four new cent coins (sometimes referred to as pennies) issued in 2009 by the Mint to honor the bicentennial of Lincoln’s birth.

Lincoln has been featured on the small coins since 1909 when he was added to celebrate the centennial of his birth. It marked the first time a former US President had been featured on a circulating strike of the United States.

Both the obverse portrait of Lincoln and the reverse design for that strike was designed by artist Victor David Brenner. They remained on the coin until 1959 when the reverse was changed to showcase an image of the Lincoln Memorial found in Washington D.C.

The cent coins remained relatively unchanged again for another fifty years until Congress mandated four new strikes in 2009 to celebrate the bicentennial of Lincoln’s birth. These four coins were to feature reverse designs emblematic of four different stages in the life of Lincoln – Birthplace, Formative Years, Professional Life and Presidency.

Each coin in the series was released in the order upon which the event depicted occurred. Thus, the Birthplace Cent was the first to be released and made its debut on February 12, 2009. It was followed on May 14, 2009 with the Formative Years Cent with the US Mint releasing this Professional Life Cent on August 13, 2009.

A ceremony marking the release of the Professional Life Cent was held on the grounds of the Old State Capitol Building of Springfield, Illinois. This location was especially appropriate as it is the same location depicted on the reverse of the coin which also includes an image of Lincoln standing in front of the building where he practiced as both a lawyer and politician.

The reverse was designed by Joel Iskowitz and sculpted by Don Everhart.