2010-P Abraham Lincoln Presidential Dollar : A Collector’s Guide

By Charles Morgan and Hubert Walker for CoinWeek Notes ….

The 2010-P Abraham Lincoln Presidential Dollar is a one-dollar coin struck at the Philadelphia Mint as part of the Presidential Dollar series. 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.

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-P (Philadelphia) version can be identified by the presence of the P mintmark on the coin’s edge.

Lincoln’s Lasting Legacy

Abraham Lincoln’s journey from humble beginnings in Indiana to the White House was a testament to his ambition, intellect, and evolving moral compass. His early life, marked by self-education and a strong work ethic, laid the groundwork for his political career. Moving to Illinois, he became a lawyer and a leader of the Whig Party, serving in the state legislature and holding one term in the U.S. House of Representatives.

The issue of slavery increasingly dominated American politics, and Lincoln’s views, though not radical abolitionist, were firmly opposed to its expansion. He believed slavery was a moral wrong and a threat to the nation’s founding principles. His powerful speeches during the Lincoln-Douglas debates of 1858, though he lost the Senate race, propelled him onto the national stage. He argued that “a house divided against itself cannot stand,” foreseeing the inevitable conflict over slavery.

Upon his election to the presidency in 1860, Southern states, fearing the end of slavery and their way of life, began to secede from the Union. Lincoln steadfastly maintained that secession was illegal and unconstitutional. He viewed the United States as a perpetual union, not a mere compact of states that could be dissolved at will. He famously declared, “Physically speaking, we cannot separate.”

The attack on Fort Sumter in April 1861 marked the beginning of the American Civil War. Lincoln’s primary objective throughout the war was to preserve the Union. Initially, he framed the conflict as a struggle to maintain the nation’s integrity, not as a war to abolish slavery. However, as the war progressed, his stance on slavery evolved. Recognizing the strategic importance of emancipation and the moral imperative, he issued the Emancipation Proclamation on January 1, 1863, declaring enslaved people in Confederate territory free. This transformed the war into a fight for freedom and human dignity, while also weakening the Confederacy by encouraging enslaved people to flee to Union lines. Lincoln rigorously prosecuted the war, replacing generals who were too cautious, pushing for aggressive military action, and overseeing the drafting of soldiers.
In his final months in office, with the Union victory in sight, Lincoln focused on healing the fractured nation. His Second Inaugural Address, delivered in March 1865, remains a profound call for reconciliation and forgiveness. He urged Americans to act “with malice toward none, with charity for all,” envisioning a future where North and South could reunite without vengeance.

Tragically, just days after the Confederate surrender at Appomattox, Lincoln was assassinated by John Wilkes Booth on April 14, 1865, while attending a play at Ford’s Theatre. His death plunged the nation into deep mourning. Lincoln’s funeral was an unprecedented event, with his body transported by train on a slow, mournful journey from Washington, D.C. to his final resting place in Springfield, Illinois, allowing millions of Americans to pay their respects. Following his death, poet Walt Whitman wrote several poems, “Hush’d Be the Camps To-Day,” “When Lilacs Last in the Dooryard Bloom’d,” and perhaps the most famous elegy in American literary history, “O Captain! My Captain!”

Abraham Lincoln’s legacy is immense and enduring. He is revered as the preserver of the Union, the emancipator of enslaved people, and a champion of democracy. His leadership during the Civil War, his oratory and literary eloquence, and his profound commitment to justice and equality have cemented his place as one of the most revered figures in American history.

Selecting the Design

The Commission of Fine Arts (CFA) and the Citizens Coinage Advisory Committee (CCAC) had differing recommendations for the design of the Lincoln Presidential Dollar.

The CCAC, following a split vote, chose a design inspired by a photograph taken by Alexander Gardner on February 5, 1865. This sitting, where Gardner captured Lincoln in five poses, was the President’s final formal portrait session before his assassination five weeks later.

CCAC Chairman Mitch Sanders strongly advocated for the Gardner photograph, describing it as “one of the great works of American art.” Sculptor and CCAC member Gary Marks concurred, noting that the photograph revealed “what the war did to him.” However, CCAC members Donald Scarinci and Richard Meier favored the head-on portrait that the CFA preferred.

Ultimately, the Treasury Secretary makes the final decision on United States coin designs. While the Secretary often collaborates with the CFA, CCAC, and other parties to achieve the best possible design, there is no obligation to accept their recommendations. For the 2010 Abraham Lincoln Presidential Dollar, then-Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner sided with the CFA and selected the head-on Lincoln portrait created by Mint Engraver Don Everhart.

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.

Collecting the 2010-P Lincoln Presidential Dollar

The Philadelphia Mint struck 49,000,000 2010-P Abraham Lincoln Presidential Dollars.

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, as a limited-edition U.S. Mint collectible blending 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-P Abraham Lincoln Presidential Dollar Market Data and Noteworthy Specimens

Top Population: PCGS MS68 (1, 7/2025), NGC MS68 (3, 7/2025), and CAC N/A (7/2025).

• PCGS MS66: eBay, July 10, 2025 – $18.50. Buy It Now.
• NGC Brilliant Uncirculation: eBay, June 10, 2025 – $6. Buy It Now.
• First Day Cover (P & D): eBay, April 30, 2025 – 9.49. Buy It Now.
• Uncirculated: July 7, 2025 – $2.59. Buy It Now.

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

Top Population: PCGS SP69 (12, 7/2025), NGC MS69 (15, 7/2025), and CAC N/A (7/2025).

• PCGS SP68: eBay, July 21, 2025 – $30. Buy It Now.
• PCGS SP68: eBay, May 25, 2025 – $14.99. Buy It Now.
• NGC MS67: eBay, July 18, 2025 – $18.50. 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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