1909 VDB

The 1909 VDB Lincoln cent is the original version of Victor David Brenner's design, bearing his initials V.D.B. at the bottom of the reverse between the two wheat stalks. The coin entered circulation on August 2, 1909, the centennial of Lincoln's birth, and was an immediate sensation. People lined up at banks and the Philadelphia Mint to obtain the new cents. Newspapers covered the release. For the first time in American history, the face of a real person appeared on a circulating coin, and the public was fascinated.

The fascination curdled quickly. Within days, critics objected to Brenner's prominent initials, arguing they amounted to free advertising for the sculptor. The complaint was not entirely fair (designer initials appeared on other coins of the era) but it was loud enough that the Mint acted. Newspaper reporters argued the placement amounted to "free, illegal advertising." Instead of moving the initials to a less conspicuous location, Mint employees simply removed them entirely. By August 5, the modified dies were in production. Brenner's initials would not return to the cent until 1918, when they were restored in tiny form on Lincoln's shoulder, where they remain today.

The Philadelphia Mint struck approximately 27.9 million VDB cents before the initials were removed. The coin is classified as semi-key: scarce enough to carry a premium over the no-VDB version but common enough to be affordable in circulated grades. The VDB's fame far exceeds its rarity. It is the coin that most people think of when they hear "valuable penny," and checking for the VDB initials is often the first thing a new collector learns to do.

In lower circulated grades (Good to Fine), the 1909 VDB is a coin that can be acquired for a modest sum. The premium increases in higher grades, particularly in Uncirculated condition where original red color is preserved. A gem 1909 VDB with full red surfaces is a popular target for Lincoln cent collectors building high-quality sets.