Coin Highlights:
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Mint: Philadelphia
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Designer: Victor David Brenner
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Mintage: 27,995,000
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Composition: 95% copper, 5% tin and zinc
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Diameter: 19.05 mm
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Weight: 3.11 grams
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Grade: About Uncirculated (AU)
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Obverse: Bust of Abraham Lincoln facing right
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Reverse: Classic wheat ears design with “V.D.B.” initials at the bottom center
Historical Significance
The 1909 VDB marked two major firsts in U.S. coinage: the first use of a real person’s portrait (Abraham Lincoln) and the beginning of the Wheat Cent series, which ran until 1958. Due to public criticism over the prominent initials, the Mint quickly removed “VDB,” resulting in a short production window and strong collector interest.
