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, so 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 standards; key dates should be checked against the PCGS / NGC price guides; 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.