Collectors who cannot find the new Lincoln cent design in their change or obtain supplies from their local banks have been given a new option by the U.S. Mint.
Two-roll sets of the new coins, which feature the first of four new reverses, began being sold March 13 on the Mint’s Web site.
The set includes a 50-cent roll of uncirculated coins from Denver and a 50-cent roll of uncirculated coins from Philadelphia.
Price of set is $8.95 plus $4.95 for shipping and handling.
The economic recession has backed up the banking system with excess coinage and slowed the usual process of distribution of new coinage.
This has led to frustration among collectors who are anxious to get examples of the coins that mark the 200th anniversary of the birth of the 16th President of the United States.
Prices on the secondary market have been high as supplies there are tight.
Greencastle, Ind., dealer Julian Jarvis says he cannot obtain supplies for his clients, but when he does get them, he expects prices to drop to two cents a coin, which works out to $1 a roll. In the meantime, he tracks reports of where the new cents are being released. He mentioned that the St. Louis Federal Reserve District has just received some.
Numismatic News readers report the new cents in Puerto Rico and Southern California.
