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1909 VDB Proof
| Weight | 3.11 g |
| Diameter | 19 mm |
| Mint | Philadelphia |
| Strike | Proof |
| Mintage | 1,194 Proof; includes Lincoln and VDB varieties |
| Edge | Plain |
| Alignment | ↑↓ Coin |
| Composition | 95% Copper, 5% Tin & Zinc |
| Melt value | — |
| Designer | Victor D. Brenner |
| Collector's Key ID | CK-426 |
Collection
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Other recorded varieties for 1909:
- 1909 Lincoln Proof · Lincoln
External references
The 1909 VDB proof Lincoln cent is the original proof version of Brenner's design, bearing the V.D.B. initials on the reverse. The proof was struck during the brief window (approximately August 2-5, 1909) before the Mint removed the initials. The VDB proof is scarcer than the no-VDB proof because the production window was shorter.
The VDB proof combines first-year status, the famous initials, and proof format into a single coin. Collectors who want the definitive version of the first Lincoln cent, as Brenner designed it, in the highest quality the Mint could produce, need the VDB proof. Surviving examples show the V.D.B. initials in crisp detail between the wheat stalks, exactly as Brenner placed them before the controversy forced their removal.
Pricing reflects the convergence of multiple collecting interests: Lincoln cent proof collectors, VDB variety collectors, and first-year-of-issue collectors all want this coin. A gem example with full red color and deeply mirrored fields is among the most desirable early Lincoln cents in any format.
Reference data only — not an appraisal.
| Grade | Description | Low | High |
|---|---|---|---|
| PR-63 | Proof (PR) | — | — |
How many 1909 VDB Proof Lincoln Wheat Cents were minted?
What is a 1909 VDB Proof Lincoln Wheat Cent made of?
What is the melt value of a 1909 VDB Proof Lincoln Wheat Cent?
Is the 1909 VDB Proof Lincoln Wheat Cent a key date?
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