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Penny with man sitting on a log: the 2009 Formative Years cent

4 min read · Updated Oct 9, 2026

Is a penny with a man on it a 2009 cent?

If the back shows young Lincoln reading during a break from rail splitting, the coin is a 2009 Formative Years cent. The Mint released this reverse on May 14, 2009, as one of four Bicentennial designs that marked 200 years since Lincoln's birth. Charles Vickers designed and sculpted the back. The front still carries the portrait by Victor David Brenner, first used on the 1909 cent.

What are the four 2009 designs?

Each of the four designs shows a different part of Lincoln's life:

• Birth and Early Childhood: the catalogue name. The mintage table lists it as "Birthplace."
• Formative Years: young Lincoln reading in Indiana, during a break from splitting rails.
• Professional Life
• Presidency

Each design was struck at both mints, so a single design can appear with or without a D mint mark.

How many 2009 pennies were made?

These are the mint totals from the catalogue, which match the Wikipedia mintage table:

• Formative Years, Philadelphia (P): 376,000,000
• Formative Years, Denver (D): 363,600,000
• Other P designs: Birth and Early Childhood 284,800,000; Professional Life 316,000,000; Presidency 129,600,000
• Other D designs: Birth and Early Childhood 350,000,000; Professional Life 336,000,000; Presidency 198,000,000
• Satin finish (bronze): 784,614 for each design
• Proof (S mint): 2,995,615 for each design

Mintage is how many were struck, not how many survive. A large mintage usually means the coin is common.

Is a normal 2009 Formative Years penny worth money?

Usually not. A circulated Philadelphia cent 2009 Formative Years has a catalogue estimate of 1¢ at G4, which is face value. The Denver version 2009-D Formative Years has the same estimate. Circulating 2009 cents are copper-plated zinc and weigh about 2.50 g. Denver cents have a D mint mark below the date. Philadelphia cents have none.

Satin finish and proof versions were made for collectors and are not circulation coins. The catalogue has no separate estimate for them on this page. For the year as a whole, see the 2009 penny value page.

Is there a doubled die reverse on the Formative Years cent?

Collectors report a doubled die reverse (DDR) on this design. The doubling appears on Lincoln's left hand, where it holds the book. Most reported examples show extra fingers and thumbs, often an extra index finger just above the normal one. The catalogue lists this as a separate variety 2009 Formative Years Doubled Die Reverse.

How to check a Formative Years cent:

1. Confirm the date is 2009 and the back shows the Formative Years scene.
2. Under a magnifier, study Lincoln's left hand and the book. Compare it with a normal Formative Years cent 2009 Formative Years.
3. Look for an extra finger or thumb shape beside the normal one.

The catalogue gives no separate value for this variety. The 2009 penny value page covers the year. If you think you have one, don't clean it. Ask a professional grading service to authenticate it. See where to get a penny graded or sold.

Penny Value is an Android app for now, so it isn't on the App Store. The values and checks on this page are free to use.Penny Value is an Android app. Open this page on your Android phone to check your own penny with a photo.

Coins in this guide

• 2009 Formative Years

  Philadelphia · Included in the 376,000,000 2009 total; not counted separately.

  1¢worn
• 2009-D Formative Years

  Denver · 363.6 million made

  1¢worn
• 2009 Formative Years Doubled Die Reverse

  Philadelphia · Included in the 376,000,000 2009 total; not counted separately.

  Variety

Related guides

• Lincoln penny key dates: the short list worth knowing
• Where to get a penny graded or sold — and when it's worth it

Sources

1. Wikipedia, “Lincoln cent” (accessed 2026-10-09)
2. Wikipedia, “Lincoln cent mintage figures” (accessed 2026-10-09)
3. Numismatic News, “Cents doubled” (accessed 2026-10-09)
4. Lincoln Cent Resource, “2009 Formative Years Doubled Die Reverses” (accessed 2026-10-09)
5. DoubleDDie.com, “2009 Formative Years variety listing” (accessed 2026-10-09)
6. Penny Value estimate, “Methodology” (accessed 2026-10-09)