1909 Penny Errors, Varieties, and Values
1909 penny is a sought after wheat cent known for rare and valuable errors and varieties. Furthermore, the value of a 1909 pennies vary, but some have prices as high as that of a small house! Keep reading to learn why.
For instance, key date coins are of the rarest most valuable coins. Moreover, both mints struck coins with the initials, and without the initials. – Heritage Auctions
Design Controversy
Additionally, the 1909 S version was the first year of the Lincoln coin. Almost immediately upon release the public made complaints about Brenner’s initials (V.D.B.) on the back of the Lincoln cent, because the initials are located under the wheat stalks.
After the location of the V.D.B. initials attracted public scrutiny, the U.S. Mint responded to the criticism by removing the initials entirely. Thus the result that some 1909 Lincoln cents bear the V.D.B. initials, and others do not.- the-sun.com
Collectible 1909 Pennies
Additionally, instead of placing the initials elsewhere with new dies, mint employees simply removed them entirely from die. This produced a new variety of 1909 cents without the V.D.B.
Furthermore, as new dies were being prepared, the designer’s initials on the old dies were removed by crude tooling. 1909 pennies struck by these altered dies are highly sought-after. – error-ref.com
1909 V.D.B. Struck Through Reverse Error
The 1909 cent is extremely valuable not only because of the fame garnered from the controversy surrounding them, but also the low mintage brought on by the controversy.
Furthermore, only 484,000 1909-S pennies were produced. However, though that’s a rare variety, it’s not all that makes these Lincoln pennies so valuable.
1909 Penny Value
Additionally, 1909 pennies sell on eBay in circulated condition at five dollars and up. Moreover, values vary, depending on the condition of the coin, mintage, and error or variety.
Furthermore, the more unique the coin, the lesser the population, and the higher the grade, then the more valuable the coin is.
For instance, a 1909 VDB cent graded MS62 BN, (brown,) sold at auction for $4,830.00. A 1909 VDB penny graded MS68RD, sold at auction for $56,400.00!
Furthermore, there are only four 1909 VDB Lincoln cents without errors, but with a high mint state grade of MS68. The PCGS price guide value is an estimated $57,000 per coin! A 1909 1C Lincoln, graded PR68RD (Proof), sold at auction for $59,800.00.
1909 Lincoln Cent Doubled Die Varieties
The value of the 1909 penny depends not only on the condition of the coin but whether it has a unique error or other anomaly, such as the 1909 doubled die varieties.
The 1909 S minted pennies with the initials have the lowest mintage, but pennies of this date can still be extremely rare and valuable regardless of mintage.
Valuable Doubled Dies
Furthermore, this 1909 penny displays moderate to extra thickness showing on the date and Liberty. I compared images to listings available via coppercoins.com first.
Moreover, doubled die listings to compare images to are available via varietyvista.com. John Wexler listed 1909 doubled die varieties with images via doubleddie.com.
1909 Doubled Die Obverse Lincoln Cent Value
The auction prices of graded and authenticated 1909 doubled die varieties make for an impressive conversation to start with anyone who likes to talk about money. For instance, a 1909 VDB Lincoln cent DDO FS-1102 graded MS67RD, sold at auction for $24,150.
Furthermore, a1909 VDB 1C Doubled Die Obverse graded MS67RD, sold at auction for $23,000 in 2009. The 1909 VDB 1C DDO FS-1102, graded MS64RB (Red Brown,) once sold at auction for $1,560.00. The opportunities are endless Looking Through Lincoln Cents!