2009 Lincoln Bicentennial One Cent Proof Set

The US Mint has posted the product page and further information on the separate 2009 Lincoln Cent Proof Set that will be offered on August 26, 2009 at 12:00 Noon ET.

As expected, the set will contain the four different 2009 Proof Lincoln Cents, with designs representing Lincoln's Birthplace, Formative Years, Professional Life, and Presidency. The coins will have the special composition of 95% copper and 5% tin and zinc that has been used for the Lincoln Cents included in the US Mint's 2009 annual sets.

It appears that the lens containing the proof cents will have the same background insert design featuring an American flag. Based on how they have treated other separate denomination proof sets, I would expect that the outer cardboard box will feature a custom design. (The product page currently shows the 2009 Proof Set box for some reason.)

The sets are priced at $7.95 each and carry a surprising ordering limit of 5 sets per household. Even though the sets will go on sale in less than two weeks, they apparently won't begin shipping until late November 2009. Here is the US Mint's product page.

This separate proof set was perhaps brought on by the strong secondary market demand exhibited for separate 2009 Proof Lincoln Cent Sets. Countless 2009 Proof Sets have already been broken up for the purpose of selling the 2009 Lincoln Cent lens separately. On eBay, sales of these separate sets continues to be robust with the sets still selling around the $15 price level.

On a related note, the US Mint has also updated the entry on their product schedule for the 2009 Lincoln Coin and Chronicles Set from "Fall" to "October". This set will contain one 2009 Proof Lincoln Commemorative Silver Dollar and the four 2009 Proof Lincoln Cents with a production limit of 50,000 units.