For a well known rarity, you may’t beat the 1909-S V.D.B. Lincoln Cent
By Jeff Garrett for Numismatic Guaranty Company (NGC) ……
The 1909-S V.D.B. Lincoln Cent is definitely not one of many rarest U.S. cash, but it surely is likely one of the most well-known. The elusive cent is listed in my e book 100 Best U.S. Cash (6th Ed., 2024), and it’s in all probability some of the inexpensive cash within the e book. The Information E book of United States Cash (the Crimson E book) defines the phrase “key coin” as “one of many scarcer or extra precious cash in a sequence.” The 1909-S V.D.B. Cent definitely suits that description.
Like hundreds of thousands of different collectors now and up to now, my numismatic journey started with Lincoln Cents. Little did I do know that the reward of a small blue Whitman folder for Lincoln Cents would change my life. Within the late Nineteen Sixties, you can discover numerous totally different date-and-mintmark Lincoln Cents in circulation. Each week, I’d go to the financial institution and purchase as many rolls of cents as I might afford on the time. After months of looking out, the album began to replenish, apart from a couple of dozen cash.
It was then that my aim turned incomes sufficient cash to “buy” the cash wanted to finish my set. I believe my first buy was from Littleton Coin Firm, which marketed extensively in comedian books in these days. Regardless of my aggressive pursuits, it could be years earlier than I might purchase the 1909-S V.D.B. Cent. I used to be lastly capable of finding one on the 1972 Clearwater, Florida coin present that will match my finances. That coin and the set are nonetheless in my assortment and can at all times be particular to me.
The 1909-S V.D.B. Cent has lengthy been thought-about the important thing date for the sequence. Whereas the mintage of 480,000 could appear excessive in contrast with many different U.S. rarities, one should perceive that there are hundreds of thousands of people that gather Lincoln Cents. So far, NGC has graded solely 11,642 examples in all grades. There are merely not sufficient of the elusive concern to fulfill the entire collector demand. The large recognition of the problem is why the coin continues to carry a spot on the record of 100 Best United States Cash.
In 1905, President Theodore Roosevelt commissioned the well-known U.S. sculptor and artist Augustus Saint-Gaudens to arrange designs for all denominations, together with the cent. Initially, Saint-Gaudens’ design for the obverse featured an eagle motif much like James Barton Longacre’s small-size Flying Eagle Cent. This design was deserted in favor of a head of Victory in profile sporting an Indian headdress, however Saint-Gaudens and Roosevelt favored this design a lot that they used it for the 1907 Eagle as a substitute. Sadly, Saint-Gaudens died of most cancers earlier than making any extra progress on the cent design, so it was not till 1909 that sculptor Victor David Brenner created the well-known bust of President Abraham Lincoln with which we’re all so acquainted right this moment.
Brenner’s design broke new floor by inserting the picture of an precise individual on a coin made for circulation. In what some naïve observers thought-about a break with numismatic custom, Brenner positioned his initials close to the underside of the again of the coin. Regardless of their small dimension, the letters “V.D.B.” have been apparent sufficient that they created uproar with the general public and United States Mint officers, who instantly demanded their elimination. The offending initials have been expunged later in 1909, ensuing within the creation of 4 1909 Lincoln Cent varieties for collectors to amass: 1909 With and With out V.D.B. and 1909-S With and With out V.D.B. Of the 4 varieties, the 1909-S V.D.B. is by far the rarest.
Low-grade examples of the date could be discovered with out problem, however authentication is a should. The 1909-S V.D.B. cent might be some of the counterfeited cash in any U.S. sequence. The difficulty has been counterfeited for generations and a few are amazingly good. When provided uncertified examples in our coin store, we solely make a proposal after we have now despatched the coin to NGC for authentication. NEVER purchase an uncertified instance of the 1909-S V.D.B. Cent.
For these with a extra beneficiant finances for uncommon cash, chances are you’ll need to take into account a Mint State instance. For my part, cash grading MS64 RB (Crimson Brown) or RD (Crimson) are the perfect worth for the problem. The cash bounce considerably in worth for the subsequent grade and better. The public sale file for the date is over $100,000 for cash graded MS67 RD.
One notice of warning: Make sure that any RD-designated coin you might be contemplating nonetheless has sufficient Crimson coloring to nonetheless qualify as such. I’ve seen cash which have mellowed in shade over time. The Crimson designation just isn’t assured by third-party grading firms because of this.
The inhabitants for this date in MS64 and MS65 RD was a lot decrease about 10 years in the past. When the cash have been issued in 1909, many have been saved as keepsakes of the brand new design. That is frequent for brand spanking new points. About 10 years in the past, an unique roll of 1909-S V.D.B. Cents surfaced at a coin present. The cash have been rapidly disseminated and the licensed inhabitants numbers jumped significantly, virtually in a single day.
The 1909-S V.D.B. Cent will proceed to be some of the well-known American cash for a few years. In the event you can afford an instance, it provides you with immediate gravitas with anybody acquainted with interest!
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