In 1909, the United States Mint issued a new design for the US Penny that would spark some controversy in its early days. For the first few months of production, the coins prominently featured the initials VDB on the bottom of the reverse field. By the end of the year, new 1909 Lincoln Wheat Pennies were introduced without initials. Now, 1909 VDB Lincoln Wheat Pennies in certified condition are available to you for purchase online from Silver.com.
Coin Highlights:
- Coins ship to you inside protective plastic slabs courtesy of the PCGS!
- First year of release for the Lincoln Wheat Penny!
- Comes with the VDB initials of Victor David Brenner!
- Availability of certified coins is limited!
- Consists of 95% copper.
- Issued a face value of $.01 (USD) by the United States.
- Bears a Grade of Mint State 65 from the Professional Coin Grading Service.
- RD luster coins.
- President Abraham Lincoln is on the obverse.
- Wheat stalks are on the reverse.
The 1909 redesign of the US Penny was delayed by the death of Augustus Saint-Gaudens in 1907. He had originally been commissioned in 1905 to submit new designs for the US Penny and the four gold coins of the US Eagle denomination as none of these changes required the approval of Congress.
After Saint-Gaudens’ death, Victor David Brenner was commissioned to design a new obverse-reverse pairing for the Penny. His submission consisted of wheat stalks surrounding the denomination on the reverse and a bust of President Abraham Lincoln in right-profile relief on the obverse. While several reverse images have been used over the last 110-plus years, Brenner’s portrait of Lincoln remains to this day.
President Abraham Lincoln is captured in right-profile relief on the obverse of 1909 VDB Wheat Pennies. This design was created in 1909 by Brenner and remains the face of the US Penny in the 21st century. Brenner’s portrait is based on an 1864 photograph taken on February 9th of that year.
Two wheat stalks surround the denomination on the reverse side of 1909 VDB Lincoln Pennies. This design was used on the so-called Wheat Cent until 1958. The 1909 release was not only the first in the series, but also the only one with the controversial inclusion of Brenner’s VDB initials on the bottom of the reverse. There was some public opinion and comments from Treasury officials suggesting the inclusion of the artist’s initials was inappropriate.
These 1909 VDB Lincoln Wheat Pennies are available in Mint State 65 condition. The PCGS assigns this grade to coins with high-quality mint luster and either clusters of small contact marks or two heavier contact marks. The RD designation indicates the coins have a red mint luster.
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