1909-S VDB Penny Value
The first-year Lincoln cent with designer Victor D. Brenner's initials, struck in San Francisco before the initials were removed: 484,000 made, against billions for common wheats. That scarcity holds the price above $700 even for heavily worn examples, with uncirculated coins in the four figures.
Both marks must be present: the S under the date and the V.D.B. centered at the base of the reverse. Added mintmarks and doctored initials are the most common fakes in American coins — position and shape are diagnostic, and any purchase or sale at these prices should go through certification.
| Mintage | 484,000 |
|---|---|
| Mint | San Francisco |
| Diagnostic | S below date + V.D.B. on reverse rim |
| Series rank | Key date of Lincoln cents |
Value bands
| Condition / variety | Typical retail |
|---|---|
| Heavily worn | $700–900 |
| Average circulated | $900–1,300 |
| Lightly worn | $1,300–2,000 |
| Uncirculated | $2,000+ (red examples much higher) |
Bands are conservative US retail ranges for problem-free coins; dealers buy below retail. Where a melt floor applies it overrides any lower band figure.
Varieties that change the price
| Variety | Status | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 1909 VDB (no S) | Better date | Philadelphia version with initials: common and affordable ($10–20) — the S is what you're verifying. |
| 1909-S (no VDB) | Key date | Still scarce and worth $100+ — but a fraction of the VDB, which is why fakers add initials. |
Buying or selling one
At this price tier, raw coins trade at a heavy discount to certified ones — the certification fee pays for itself immediately. If yours came from an inherited collection, resist cleaning it; original surfaces carry the premium.
Coin specifications from U.S. Mint historical standards; value bands are editorial retail ranges reviewed against public auction and dealer pricing — they are context, not offers. Live melt data via gold-api.com. See how we calculate.