The 2009 Abraham Lincoln Commemorative Silver Dollar was the first of two silver commemorative coins issued by the United States Mint in 2009. These coins were released by the US Mint on February 12, 2009 in both proof and uncirculated condition with a maximum mintage of 500,000 across all product options.

This was just one of five new Lincoln coins issued by the Mint during the year to celebrate the bicentennial of the birth of the 16th President of the United States Abraham Lincoln. Also issued were four different Lincoln Cents, each depicted a different stage in the life of the former president.

Collectors wasted no time in obtaining the entire available mintage of the 2009 Abraham Lincoln Commemorative Silver Dollars. 450,000 of the individual coins were ordered from the Mint in less than two months from their release, officially placing the coins on sell out. 50,000 of the proof coins were reserved for the soon to be released Lincoln Coin and Chronicles Set which debuted on October 15, 2009 and sold out themselves in less than two days.

The obverse of the 2009 Abraham Lincoln Commemorative Silver Dollars show a portrait of the president. It was designed by United States Mint Artistic Infusion Program Master Designer Justin Kunz and sculpted by United States Mint Sculptor-Engraver Don Everhart. The portrait was based on the Daniel Chester French image of president which sits inside the Lincoln Memorial in Washington, D.C. Surrounding the portrait are the inscriptions of LIBERTY, IN GOD WE TRUST and 2009.

For the reverse, a laurel wreath is shown encircling the last 43 words of Lincoln’s famous Gettysburg Address – "…we here highly resolve that these dead shall not have died in vain — that this Nation, under God, shall have a new birth of freedom — and that government of the people, by the people, for the people, shall not perish from the earth." Also shown are the inscriptions of UNITED STATES OF AMERCICA, ONE DOLLAR and E PLURIBUS UNUM. The reverse was designed and sculpted by United States Mint Sculptor-Engraver Phebe Hemphill.

Surcharges on the sale of each strike was forwarded to the Abraham Lincoln Bicentennial Commission to further its work in planning the celebration of Lincoln’s bicentennial and the continued study of his life.

Also issued by the Mint in the same year as this strike was the Louis Braille Bicentennial Silver Dollar.