1909 Cent Secrets: VDB S, VDB and No Mint Mark Examples

The 1909 US penny was an important part of American numismatics. It was the year famed for the 1909 S VDB Lincoln cent - the first coin in the history of the United States with the image of a real historical figure, rather than an allegorical figure symbolizing the ideals of freedom.

The 1909 S Lincoln penny issue with a portrait of the great president was more than just a design decision - it marked the shift to a new type of coinage and brought a common object like the penny to the attention of collectors.

However, 1909 was memorable for more than just this innovation. Several different versions of the penny were issued that year, including 1909 VDB pennies, coins without mint marks and rare issues of the 1909 S VDB wheat penny.   Today, these coins attract special attention from collectors due to their rarity, significance and variety, as well as being sought-after wheat pennies in the world.

And if experienced numismatists surely understand what we are talking about, then novice amateurs are probably lost in guesses: “What is VDB penny meaning?”; “How much is a 1909 penny worth and why 1909 S VDB Lincoln penny value is higher than others?”. Today we will reveal the secrets of these coins, find out why some of them are considered rare and have a place of honor in any collection, and learn more about native and foreign coin identification.

Wheat Pennies: A New Era

Lincoln on the Obverse - the Father of Liberty and Equality

The idea to put Lincoln's portrait on a coin was initiated in 1908 by President Theodore Roosevelt, who wanted to improve the appearance of U.S. coins. He believed that American money should reflect the greatness of the nation and its history. The choice of Lincoln's profile was no accident, as he was a symbol of freedom, unity and the struggle for equality (especially after his role in the Civil War and the abolition of slavery).

The portrait of Abraham Lincoln on these popular and most common coins is a special tribute to his memory. The issuance of the penny with his portrait was especially symbolic as 1909 marked the 100th anniversary of his birth.

His grand portrait was created by renowned sculptor Victor David Brenner, whose name would play a key role in one of the 1909 coin varieties.

The 1909 Penny Variety: Confusion and Rarity

Often collectors and newcomers to numismatics face confusion when it comes to the 1909 penny, as there are several different versions of this year's penny. But before we talk about the peculiarities of each type, allow us to look at the main characteristics of the coin in the table below.

Main characteristics of the 1909 penny:

Now moving on to the most important varieties of the 1909 penny and their features.

1909 VDB Penny (Philadelphia, No Mint Mark)

Now, it's time to find out what the letters VDB on Lincoln penny mean. The VDB penny is the first version of the penny minted at the Philadelphia Mint. The initials of the designer Victor David Brenner - the same VDB - were inscribed at the bottom of the reverse.

However, their placement caused controversy: many found the initials too large and conspicuous, leading Mint to take the decision to remove them from the next issue.

• How many 1909 VDB pennies were made? The mintage amounted to 27,995,000 coins.

• What is a 1909 penny worth? These coins are not rare, but because of their historical significance they have some value (more historical).

1909S Wheat Penny with VDB (San Francisco)

The rarest and perhaps most valuable variety is the 1909 VDB S penny. These coins were produced at the San Francisco Mint and contain both the mint mark “S” (on the obverse of the coin below the year of issue) and the famous VDB abbreviation (on the reverse of the coin below, between the wheat ears). Due to the low mintage and the subsequent removal of the initials, this version became a real value and a find for collectors.

• Mintage: 484,000 coins

• How many 1909 S VDB pennies are left? It is difficult to determine for sure, as many pieces were lost over time, damaged or are in private collections. However, experts estimate that between 40,000 and 50,000 of these coins remain in circulation and in the hands of collectors.

• The distinctive features of the 1909 S VDB Lincoln penny speak for themselves: the mint mark and the sculptor's initials.

The 1909 S VDB penny worth more than all other coins in the series because its rarity significantly increases its value. The value of the 1909 S VDB penny was understood immediately after the rumor of the coins being withdrawn from circulation due to dissatisfaction with the initials on the coin. There was quite a stir in New York as many people tried to sell or find 1909 S VDB Lincoln penny for sale. In the end, all of this resulted in the 1909 S VDB wheat penny value being higher than the face value of the coin. 

Related article: Rare red pennies. 

1909 No VDB Penny (Philadelphia, No Mint Mark)

After criticism, the Philadelphia Mint decided to remove the initials VDB, issuing a second series of pennies without initials. These coins became the basis for future issues and were widely circulated. The coin became a kind of symbol of “compromise”. The artist's initials disappeared from the coin, but just a year later, in 1910 they were returned to their place - only more modestly (on Lincoln's shoulder). Thus, this 1909 issue without the VDB was a rare example of a transitional phase in penny design.

• Circulation: 72,702,618 coins

• Distinctive features of the coin: No VDB initials and no mint mark.

• 1909s penny value is not as high because this type of coin is more common, making it less valuable than all other versions.

1909-S No VDB Penny (San Francisco)

The last variety is the 1909-S without VDB. After removing the VDB initials from the coins, San Francisco continued minting pennies, but without the letters. These coins are also rare, but they do not reach the same value as their version with initials.

• Mintage: 1,825,000 coins

• Distinctive features of the coin: No VDB initials, mint mark “S”.

Although more common than the initialed version, these coins are also sought after due to their small issue size, quality minting, and greater collector interest in the initialed version.

Estimated Value and Investment Attractiveness

Now that we have studied the features of the various 1909 versions, it's time to get clear on the numbers of how much is a 1909 S VDB penny worth and where to find a desirable 1909 S penny for sale?

Now you may find a table with up-to-date estimated value for various 1909 Lincoln Cent, which can be a useful tool when choosing and buying.

Collectors often find these pieces at auctions, in specialized numismatic stores, or through online resources. If you are a novice collector, 1909 No VDB or 1909 VDB (Philadelphia) can be a good start, as they are more readily available and have historical significance.

For accurate valuation and identification of rare pieces, it is convenient to use apps like Coin ID Scanner App. Using the app you will easily identify the coin and determine its rarity thanks to coin photos, as well as its approximate value, which is especially helpful for beginning collectors.

Collectible Legend

The 1909 penny coins not only commemorate Lincoln's image, but also symbolize a new design and minting concept in the United States. Due to different varieties of coins they are of interest to both the novice collectors and experienced investors. Whether you are a novice collector or an experienced professional, the 1909 pennies are valuable and meaningful coins worth including in your collection.

Sources:

1. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1909-S_VDB_Lincoln_Cent

2. https://coinweek.com/the-key-date-1909-s-v-d-b-lincoln-cent-value-keeps-going-up/