Lincoln penny unveiling expected to attract thousands

Thursday’s unveiling of the third of four 2009 commemorative Abraham Lincoln pennies is expected to attract large crowds to the Old State Capitol, where U.S. Mint Director Ed Moy and U.S. Sen. Dick Durbin, D-Ill., will front a 30-minute ceremony beginning at 10 a.m.

The four pennies, introduced this year in honor of Lincoln’s bicentennial, depict different aspects of Lincoln’s life on their backsides. The first two recall Lincoln’s birth in Kentucky and his boyhood in Indiana. The penny unveiled on Thursday represents Lincoln’s professional life as an attorney in Springfield and portrays Lincoln standing in front of the Old State Capitol.

Based on the estimated 3,000 to 4,000 who attended the May unveiling of the second penny in Lincoln City, Ind., Thursday’s ceremony could be packed.

“In Indiana, there were many, many, many people,” said Mint spokeswoman Jana Prewitt. “(The line) was snaked around the park, down the sidewalks and roads leading to the amphitheater and parking lots.”

Each child 18 and younger in attendance Thursday will receive a free Springfield penny. An exchange will be held afterward, when the public will be able to purchase up to three two-roll packs of the new pennies. Each roll contains 50 cents.

The exchange will be dollar for dollar, Prewitt said. The Mint also will sell the pennies online, but at a steeper price. Each two-roll pack — 100 pennies — will sell for $8.95 plus $4.95 for shipping and handling.

“At the events, we do exchanges for the public. Nobody makes any money. It’s an even exchange. But our Web site requires us to process orders and have an ordering infrastructure that is customer-service based,” Prewitt said.

The ceremony is expected to last about 30 minutes. Mayor Tim Davlin and various government officials also are expected to attend. Singer Debbie Ross will perform the National Anthem a cappella. The Lincoln Troubadours also are scheduled to perform. WICS-TV anchor Jerry Lambert will be master of ceremonies.

The fourth Lincoln penny, honoring Lincoln as president, will be unveiled in November at a location still to be determined.

Pete Sherman can be reached at 788-1539.MORE