Is a 1909 VDB penny worth anything?
John Hall
Updated on April 08, 2026
The more common 1909 VDB cent was made in Philadelphia — with over 27 million minted, it’s worth $12 to $25 in circulated grades.
How many 1909 S VDB pennies are left in circulation?
However you see it, it’s hard to deny that the 1909-S VDB Lincoln cent is one of most important coins in American numismatics. And not necessarily because it’s the rarest coin, for it’s certainly not… A whopping 484,000 were made and Professional Coin Grading Service CoinFacts estimates some 50,000 still exist.
Where is the s on a 1909 penny?
“S” Mintmark Under Date: San Francisco Mint Struck the Coin These were the first Lincoln pennies struck at San Francisco and are notable for the V.D.B. at the lower rim.
What does the VDB stand for on a 1909 penny?
Victor David Brenner
In the coin collecting hobby, one set of initials is far more familiar – and readily recognizable – than all others. The initials are “VDB” and they stand for the name of Victor David Brenner, the artist who designed the Lincoln cent.
How much is a 1909 wheat penny worth today?
Lincoln Wheat Penny Values Are Rising
| DATE | GOOD | UNCIRCULATED |
|---|---|---|
| 1909 Lincoln Penny | $4 | $12 |
| 1909 Lincoln Penny (S) | $100 | $275 |
| 1910 Lincoln Penny | $0.35 | $10 |
| 1910 Lincoln Penny (S) | $17 | $80 |
Why is the 1909 S VDB penny worth so much?
Mint had already produced millions of the pennies with the prominent VDB initials. While most of the 1909 VDB cents were produced in Philadelphia, only 484,000 of the VDB pennies rolled out of the San Francisco mint. Therefore, the demand for the key-date 1909 S VDB penny becomes all too obvious.
How rare is a 1909 penny?
The non-VDB Lincoln cents of 1909 – the 1909 and 1909-S – are also popular coins, though more than 72 million of non-VDB 1909 Pennies were struck. The 1909-S Lincoln Penny is a somewhat scarce coin (1,825,000 struck) that usually sells for between $100 and $200 in the lower worn grades.
What are the initials on a 1909 VDB coin?
Genuine 1909-S VDB cents will have the VDB initials slightly slanted, specifically on the central crossbar of the letter “B.” These are just some of the diagnostics to use when examining 1909-S VDB Lincoln cents. If your coins look different, it is highly recommended that you send them to PCGS for authentication.
Are there any fake 1909 s VDB Lincoln cents?
There are many fake 1909-S VDB Lincoln cents out there in the market and at PCGS, we have seen many different types of fakes. When examining the 1909-S VDB Lincoln cents, some of the diagnostics PCGS graders look for are in the area of the “S” mint mark. First of all, the 1909-S VDB Lincoln cents were struck with four different obverse dies.
Can a 1909 VDB be used as a counterfeit?
If the forger uses a genuine 1909-S VDB as the “host” coin for a die-transfer counterfeit, then it is possible that the fake will have all of the markers noted above. Hopefully this article has helped to explain some of the steps taken by NGC’s graders to authenticate 1909-S VDB cents.
How can you tell if a VDB coin is genuine?
In the images below, the crossbar of the “B” and the base of the “D” are flat on the left coin, which is altered, while they are angled on the right coin, which is genuine. The authentic piece also has some strike doubling on the letters of VDB, which would likely not be seen on coins where the VDB was added.
