My Experience of the “Professional Life” 2009 Lincoln Cent Exchange in Washington DC
August 13th, 2009 was the launch date for the third of this year’s bicentennial commemorative Lincoln cents. This design has been dubbed the “Professional Life” cent, as its reverse reflects Lincoln’s time as a lawyer and legislator in Illinois. I had fully expected not to be able to attend the exchange event that has been occurring at the U.S. Mint’s retail offices in downtown D.C., but in discussing the event with my team and manager, we determined that there wasn’t anything critical that would prevent my attending the event.
I arrived at the US Mint's retail office located at 801 9th Street NW just after 11:00 AM, and got into line with about 12 other people. The Mint employees were allowing 4 or 5 people at a time into the actual retail office, as it was next to the entrance to the Mint’s offices, and it was necessary to maintain order. While in line, I was hearing stories that the Union Station was experiencing much longer lines; apparently it was a better-known location than the small retail office. I was also hearing how people were changing their looks to allow them to exchange more than once, which wasn’t necessary as the Mint employees were more than happy to exchange multiple times, so long as you went to the end of the line afterward. One couple had found a parking spot right next to the office doors, and they were making the most of their parking time, getting as many rolls as possible.
Once it was my turn, about a 10-minute wait, I was led into the building, and waited just a couple more minutes to actually exchange my dollar bills for cent rolls. All the rolls were coming from $25 boxes, and while we were only allowed to exchange $3 at a time, the employees were giving the empty boxes to people to help them carry the rolls. I did not need a box, only wanting to go through the line twice. The first time through, I gave the employee a $5, and she handed me a small Mint merchandise bag with the 6 cent rolls and my $2 in change, in the form of 2009 Denver-minted Sacagawea dollar coins.
Between trips, I used the quarter dispenser they have in place, which allowed me to exchange for $5 of the most recently released quarter design featuring American Samoa. The coins were from the Denver mint, a plus for people on the east coast. I left the retail area, walked past 10 people already in line to get to the end once again. The wait for my second time through was even shorter, perhaps 3 minutes, and after the second exchange was complete, there wasn’t anyone waiting outside. I returned to my office, and gave a co-worker two of the cent rolls, 4 of the American Samoa quarters, and a Sacagawea dollar, along with the change from the money they gave me for the exchange event.
Les Peters publishes a coin blog titled Tales of a Lifelong Coin Collector that describes his experiences related to collecting coins.
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Dear Les,
I must be a couple months behind you. I know there is a time difference between time lines, but was unaware of it being 2 months that seperate some of them. (haha) Sorry to dog on ya, we all make mistakes, and I have my share. By the way, nice written artical, I enjoyed reading it. I went to Springfield, ILL but guess I should have gone to the U.S. Mint retail office in DC, like you did. The lines were a little longer at the Old Capitol Building in ILL, but it was still a nice place to visit. Take Care, Michael Long from Battle Creek, Michigan
Thanks, Michael… I hadn’t noticed that until after you pointed it out. I have received some proofreading services for my subsequent articles, so hopefully I can avoid things like that in the future.
Hi Les,
Good article!
My three kids and my wife were there as well. But we got there about an hour before it opened. If I remember correctly, I think it opened at 10:00AM. There were maybe 15 or so people in front us.
After 10:00AM, we only had to wait maybe 15 or 20 minutes to get into the lobby to exchange coins. Even at that time, the line hadn’t even reached the corner of the building. When we went back for a second time around, it took maybe 5 or 10 minutes at most.
We probably could have gone through a third time, but decided not to press our luck with our three kids. We got out of there around 10:45 or so. We also took advantage of the awesome coin machines they had in the lobby. Apparently, all the machines have equal amounts of both D and P mint coins. We got a number of each coin they had there.
None the less, with a family of five, we were able to get $30 worth of pennies (60 rolls!!) pretty easily, cheaply, and in less than an hour (if you don’t count the pre-opening wait time).
Very nice!
Are more rolls being exchanged at the Capitol Bulding the week of September 13?
Mike, I had not heard of this previously. There is a tentative roll exchange scheduled for that week between 10:00am and 3:00pm in the Rayburn House Office Building.
http://www.usmint.gov/pressroom/index.cfm?action=press_release&ID=1045
Thanks Les. Do you have any additional information on the Roll exchange in the Rayburn House Office bldg.? Is it for each day of the week M-F 10am to 3pm? or what? Thanks again.
Mike: I will try to find out what I can about this first thing Monday morning.
Les: I apprieciate your effort and will look for your information. Thanks.
Mike:
I spoke to a Mint employee, Genevieve, who stated that when the date and time were set, they would be posted to the Mint’s web site. I was hoping to get the inside dish, but no such luck.
Thanks Les for all your help. Any further information you get would be apprieciated. I will do the same for you. Thanks again,
Mike
I just received a return call from Brendan Adams at the Mint: the schedule for the cent roll exchange is on hold, as they wait for the House Financial Services committee to give the go-ahead. The committee sponsors the event, so they have say as to when it happens. Congress is obviously busy with other matters, so I don’t feel bad about it. I will keep my eyes to the Mint’s web site, and will post again when the word is given.