This example displays full red mint luster, highlighting its exceptional preservation and eye appeal.
Coin Highlights:
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Mint: Philadelphia (no mintmark)
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Designer: Victor David Brenner
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Mintage: 72,702,618
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Composition: 95% copper, 5% tin and zinc
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Weight: 3.11 grams
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Diameter: 19.05 mm
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Grade: Brilliant Uncirculated (Red)
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Obverse: Right-facing portrait of Abraham Lincoln
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Reverse: Wheat ears flanking “ONE CENT” with no “V.D.B.” initials
Historical Significance
The 1909 Lincoln cent marked a major shift in American coinage — the first U.S. coin to feature a real person. Initially released with the “V.D.B.” initials on the reverse, the Mint quickly removed them due to public concern over their prominence. This non-VDB version had a significantly larger mintage, but in Red BU condition, it remains a highly desirable and collectible early Lincoln cent.
