2009-D Presidential Years, Copper

The 2009-D Presidential Years copper cent from the Denver Mint features Susan Gamble's design of the half-built Capitol dome, sculpted by Joseph Menna. The image captures one of the most visually dramatic symbols of Lincoln's presidency. When Lincoln first took the oath of office on March 4, 1861, the Capitol stood with its old dome removed and the new iron framework barely begun. Photographs from the inauguration show the skeletal ironwork rising behind the crowd gathered on the east front of the building.

Lincoln reportedly told a visitor that if the people saw the Capitol going on, it would be a sign that the nation itself would go on. The construction continued through four years of civil war, employing workers even as armies clashed within earshot of Washington. The Denver Mint produced these 95% copper satin finish specimens for collector sets only. At 3.1 grams, they carry the same weight as the pre-1982 bronze cents that generations of Americans grew up using. The Denver facility's role in the bicentennial program reflected its status as the nation's second-largest coin production facility, consistently matching or exceeding Philadelphia's output for circulating denominations.