Coin Highlights
-
Issuer: United States of America
-
Date: 1909
-
Mint: San Francisco (S)
-
Denomination: One Cent (1¢)
-
Composition: Bronze (95% copper, 5% tin and zinc)
-
Weight: 3.11 g
-
Diameter: 19 mm
-
Grade: PCGS MS63 BN (Brown)
-
Obverse Design: Bust of President Abraham Lincoln by Victor David Brenner, the first U.S. coin to feature a real person.
-
Reverse Design: “Wheat ears” reverse with denomination ONE CENT and UNITED STATES OF AMERICA; designer’s initials V.D.B. at the bottom.
-
Edge: Plain
-
Orientation: Coin alignment (↑↓)
Historical Significance
-
Released in 1909 to commemorate the centennial of Abraham Lincoln’s birth.
-
The initials V.D.B. (Victor David Brenner) appeared prominently on the reverse. Due to controversy over their visibility, the Mint quickly removed them, making the 1909-S VDB an instant rarity.
-
Only the San Francisco Mint produced cents with the VDB initials before removal.
Mintage & Rarity
-
Mintage: Just 484,000 pieces, the lowest of the entire Lincoln Wheat cent series.
-
Its small mintage and historic status as the first “Lincoln Cent” makes it one of the most famous key date coins in all U.S. numismatics.
