Edwin M writes: I recently found a penny that has the initials VDB on the rear and the date is 1909. Is this penny worth anything?

1909 Vdb Penny Value Worth Today

• Only 484,000 1909 S VDB pennies were made! The more common 1909 VDB cent was made in Philadelphia — with over 27 million minted, it’s worth $12 to $25 in circulated grades. Facts About The 1909 VDB Penny.
• 1909 United States one cent value. What is a 1909 US penny worth? (Lincoln wheat, San Francisco mint, VDB variety) Value, specifications, and images for the 1909 Lincoln wheat one cent coin from the United States of America.

Victor Brenner was a United States sculptor and engraver whos most widely known for.you guessed it.the Penny:) The initials can be found on the reverse of the 1909 coin only. In 1918 they would be added much smaller to the front of the coin near Lincolns shoulder. All Wheat Pennies are worth more than their face value of.01 cent.

The initials V.D.B. were those of the designer of the Lincoln cent, Victor D. Brenner. There was a controversy over whether the initials should be so prominent or even on the coin at all. The initials were removed the same year creating varieties with an without the letters V.D.B.

The 1909 V.D.B. Philadelphia issue (no mint mark) was heavily hoarded as first year issues often are. There were 27,995,000 struck. Circulated pieces are plentiful and are available for approximately $8-$10.

1909 Vdb Penny Value Chart

The rare and expensive issues are the 1909-S, 1,825,000 struck, and the 1909-S V.D.B. of which only 484,000 were minted. Note that the V.D.B. was restored in 1918 to the base of Lincoln’s shoulder where it still remains today.