The Birth of the Lincoln Cent

In 1909, the United States Mint introduced the Lincoln cent to celebrate the centennial of Abraham Lincoln's birth. It was a landmark moment in American coinage — the first time a real historical figure appeared on a regularly circulating U.S. coin, breaking a long-standing tradition that considered portraits of individuals on coins to be too monarchical for a republic.

The design was the work of sculptor Victor David Brenner, a Lithuanian-born immigrant who had previously created a bronze plaque of Lincoln that caught President Theodore Roosevelt's eye. Roosevelt commissioned Brenner to create the new cent design, and the result — Lincoln's dignified profile on the obverse, two wheat stalks framing "ONE CENT" on the reverse — would prove enduringly popular.

The VDB Controversy

Brenner, like many artists, signed his work. On the reverse of the new cent, just below the wheat stalks at the bottom, he placed his initials: V.D.B. When the coin was released on August 2, 1909, it sparked immediate public controversy. Critics argued the initials were too prominent — an artist advertising himself on the nation's most common coin. The outcry was swift enough that the Mint pulled the design and removed the initials after only a short production run.

The result was that two distinct varieties existed from the very first year of the Lincoln cent:

  • 1909 VDB (Philadelphia) — common, with a large mintage before the changeover
  • 1909-S VDB (San Francisco) — struck in very small numbers before production was halted
  • 1909 (no VDB) — the revised reverse, continued from Philadelphia
  • 1909-S (no VDB) — the revised reverse from San Francisco

The Numbers That Make It Rare

The key to the 1909-S VDB's legendary status lies in its mintage figures. The Philadelphia Mint struck over 27 million VDB cents before halting production. The San Francisco Mint, however, had only produced approximately 484,000 before the recall — a tiny fraction by any measure. With fewer than half a million originally struck, and decades of circulation, loss, and wear reducing that number further, surviving examples in collectible condition are genuinely scarce.

What to Look For When Buying

Because the 1909-S VDB is so desirable, it has unfortunately attracted counterfeiters and alterers. The most common form of fraud involves removing the mint mark from a common 1909 VDB Philadelphia cent and altering it to appear as an "S." Key things to check:

  • Mint mark placement and style: The genuine "S" has specific characteristics for the period. Compare against certified examples.
  • Surface texture around the mint mark: Look for filing, tooling marks, or an uneven field under magnification.
  • Weight and diameter: A genuine cent should weigh 3.11 grams and measure 19mm.
  • Third-party certification: For any significant purchase, buying a coin certified by PCGS or NGC is the safest approach.

Grades and Value Ranges

The 1909-S VDB commands a premium at every grade level. In well-worn circulated grades (Good to Very Good), examples are accessible to dedicated collectors but still represent a significant investment. In Fine to Extremely Fine condition, prices rise considerably. Mint State examples — especially those grading MS-63 and above — are major numismatic prizes.

Values fluctuate with the market, so always consult current auction records and price guides such as the Red Book or PCGS CoinFacts for the most accurate figures.

A Symbol of Numismatic History

Beyond its rarity and value, the 1909-S VDB holds a special place in American coin collecting culture. It is the quintessential "key date" — the coin that every Lincoln cent collector must eventually confront. For many collectors, acquiring one marks a genuine milestone in their hobby. Its story of artistic pride, public controversy, and accidental scarcity makes it one of the most compelling coins the U.S. Mint ever produced.