2010-D Abraham Lincoln Presidential $1 Coin : A Collector’s Guide

By Charles Morgan and Hubert Walker for CoinWeek Notes ….

The 2010-D Abraham Lincoln Presidential Dollar is a one-dollar coin struck at the Denver Mint as part of the Presidential $1 Coin Program. Congress intended to release these designs honoring America’s past Presidents to engage the American public with the nation’s history and reinvigorate the flagging golden dollar coin program that launched in 2000 with the release of the Sacagawea Dollar.

The Lincoln Dollar was the final release of the year and was joined by dollar coins honoring Millard Fillmore, Franklin Pierce, and  James Buchanan. Circulation quality versions of the design were struck at the Philadelphia and Denver Mints. A Proof version was struck at the San Francisco Mint. The 2010-D (Denver) version can be identified by the presence of the D mintmark on the coin’s edge.

The Great Emancipator is a Popular Numismatic Subject

Abraham Lincoln’s enduring legacy is prominently featured on American coinage and medals. While numismatic developments occurred during his presidency (such as the introduction of the motto IN GOD WE TRUST on the two-cent coin), his image did not appear on official U.S. currency until much later.

The first coin to feature Lincoln’s likeness was the 1909 Lincoln Wheat Cent, designed by Victor David Brenner. This coin marked the beginning of a “Golden Age” of American numismatics and set a precedent for featuring presidents on circulating coinage. The design, with its classic and modern feel, has remained in production longer than any other coin from that era.

In 1918, a commemorative half dollar was issued for the Illinois Centennial, featuring a portrait of Lincoln on the obverse. This coin, designed by George T. Morgan, remains a popular choice among collectors.

In 1959, the Lincoln cent’s reverse was redesigned to feature the Lincoln Memorial, making it the first U.S. coin to depict the same person on both sides. Then, in 2009, to commemorate the bicentennial of his birth, the Mint released a special series of four cents with different reverse designs representing distinct periods of Lincoln’s life. That same year, a commemorative dollar coin was issued featuring a likeness of Lincoln based on Daniel Chester French’s statue at the Lincoln Memorial, along with the last 43 words of the Gettysburg Address on the reverse.

Beyond coins, Lincoln has also been honored on U.S. currency notes and a wide variety of medals, both officially sanctioned and privately produced, solidifying his status as a central figure in American numismatics.

Selecting the Design

The design of the Lincoln Presidential Dollar sparked a debate between two influential groups: the Commission of Fine Arts (CFA) and the Citizens Coinage Advisory Committee (CCAC).

The CCAC, after a divided vote, championed a design based on a poignant photograph of Lincoln taken by Alexander Gardner on February 5, 1865. This was Lincoln’s final portrait session before his assassination just five weeks later. CCAC Chairman Mitch Sanders called the image “one of the great works of American art,” and member Gary Marks felt it showed “what the war did to him.” However, not all CCAC members agreed. Donald Scarinci and Richard Meier preferred the more direct, head-on portrait that the CFA had chosen.

Ultimately, the final say belonged to the Treasury Secretary, who, despite considering input from groups like the CFA and CCAC, isn’t bound by their recommendations. In the end, then-Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner sided with the CFA, choosing the head-on design created by Mint Engraver Don Everhart for the 2010 coin.

Launching the Coin

The new Abraham Lincoln Presidential Dollar officially entered circulation on November 18, 2010. The following day, a launch ceremony was held at President Lincoln’s Cottage in Washington, D.C. This historic site, where Lincoln lived for part of his presidency and drafted the Emancipation Proclamation, was a fitting location for the event. The event coincided with the 147th anniversary of the Gettysburg Address.

The ceremony, attended by U.S. Mint Director Edmund C. Moy and President Lincoln’s Cottage Director Erin Carlson Mast, provided guests with an opportunity to hold the new coin. People could exchange cash for rolls of the coins, while children 18 and under received a free coin, a tradition for the launch of Presidential Dollars.

Abraham Lincoln Presidential Dollar Launch

The United States Mint released the 2010 Abraham Lincoln Presidential Dollar into circulation on November 18, with an official unveiling ceremony held the following day, November 19, at President Lincoln’s Cottage in Washington, D.C. This site, often called Lincoln’s “summer home,” is where he lived for about a quarter of his presidency to escape the White House’s heat. It was also where he drafted the Emancipation Proclamation in 1862 and made crucial Civil War decisions. Lincoln commuted daily to the White House and visited the cottage the day before his 1865 assassination. The cottage reopened to the public in 2008 after a seven-year restoration.

The launch ceremony, attended by U.S. Mint Director Edmund C. Moy and President Lincoln’s Cottage Director Erin Carlson Mast, coincided with the 147th anniversary of Lincoln’s Gettysburg Address. Guests could exchange cash for $25 rolls of the new coins, priced at $35.95 when purchased directly from the Mint. As is customary for Presidential Dollar launches, children 18 and under received a free Abraham Lincoln Dollar.

Collectors primarily obtained these coins by purchasing 25-coin rolls from the U.S. Mint’s website for $35.95 or by acquiring the 2010 United States Mint Uncirculated Coin Set, which included one of each coin struck at the Philadelphia and Denver Mints. These sets, with a face value of $13.82, were sold for $31.95 (approximately $47.25 in 2025 inflation-adjusted dollars). Today, these sets typically sell for about $30, while individual 2010-P Fillmore Dollars are valued at roughly $3, unless certified.

It’s worth noting the distinction between circulation-quality coins and those included in the 2010 Mint Set. From 2005 to 2010, the U.S. Mint used special dies and burnished blanks for Mint Set coins, resulting in a matte, satin-like finish. This process aimed to ensure a consistent appearance for Mint Set coins, but it sparked mixed reactions among collectors. Many felt compelled to purchase both rolls and Mint Sets to obtain both circulation-strike and specimen-strike coins.

The Mint also released the 2010 Abraham Lincoln Presidential $1 Coin First Day Cover, a limited-edition U.S. Mint collectible that blends numismatics and philately, featuring two uncirculated dollar coins —one from Philadelphia (minted August 3, 2010) and one from Denver (minted August 2, 2010). The set includes a display card with Lincoln’s biography and coin details, an envelope with a 44-cent U.S. Flag stamp, and a first-day postmark from Springfield, Illinois, dated November 18, 2010. Priced at $15.95 plus $4.95 shipping, with a product limit of 37,000, it was available for order starting December 30, 2010, and today sells for about $10.

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2010-D Abraham Lincoln Presidential Dollar Market Data and Noteworthy Specimens

Top Population: PCGS MS67 (4, 8/2025), NGC MS67 (14, 8/2025), and CAC N/A (7/2025).

• NGC BU: June 4, 2025 – $15. Buy It Now.
• NGC BU: June 1, 2025 – $9. Buy It Now.
• Uncirculated Mint Roll: July 30, 2025 – $39.95. Buy It Now.
• Uncirculated Mint Roll: July 22, 2025 – $44.99. Buy It Now.
• Uncirculated: August 7, 2025 – $3.11. Buy It Now.
• Uncirculated: July 30, 2025 – $3.15. Buy It Now.

2010-D Abraham Lincoln Presidential Dollar Specimen Strike Market Data and Noteworthy Specimens

Top Population: PCGS SP69 (9, 8/2025), NGC MS69 (74, 8/2025), and CAC N/A (7/2025).

• PCGS SP68: eBay, July 20, 2025 – $24.95. Buy It Now.
• NGC MS68: eBay, July 18, 2025 – $39.89. Buy It Now.

Design

Obverse:

Head-on portrait of Abraham Lincoln. Don Everhart’s designer initials appear on Lincoln’s left lapel. ABRAHAM LINCOLN wraps around the inside of the rim above. Wrapping around the inside of the rim below, in smaller text, is the motto IN GOD WE TRUST and the inscription 16th PRESIDENT, 1861-1865.

Common Reverse:

Don Everhart’s reverse design features an ant’s-eye view of the Statue of Liberty offset to the left. On the coin, Liberty occupies the bottom right quadrant of the coin, her extended elbow being the coin’s center point. The design is framed by a thin inner circle, which separates the graphic design from the legend UNITED STATES OF AMERICA. Beneath Liberty’s extended torch-bearing arm is the denomination $1. This is the common reverse design for all Presidential Dollar coins.

Edge:

The edge of the Presidential Dollar is lettered and features the motto E PLURIBUS UNUM, the mintmark, the year of issuance, and 13 five-pointed stars. This edge inscription may be oriented facing the obverse (Position A) or the reverse (Position B).

Coin Specifications

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