The 1909 VDB Lincoln Cent was the first Lincoln Cent issued in the series which has now lasted over 100 years. The 1909 VDB is also a one-year type coin as it was the only year the designer's initials were located on the reverse of the coin. After only a couple of weeks of production, Brenner's initials were removed from the reverse of the coin, creating this highly popular variety. Surprisingly, during the short run of production of 1909 VDB Lincoln Cents, two different doubled die obverse varieties were produced. The second of which, designated as FS-1102 is said to be more rare than the FS-1101, though it is not as expensive as the more collected FS-1101 which shows more extreme doubling. The doubling on the obverse of the FS-1102 can be seen with an extra thickness on the first 9 in 1909 as well as in the letters of LIBERTY, particularly in the B and R. Other diagnostics of the FS-1102 include die clashing under Lincoln's chin and under the C of CENT on the reverse.
This PCGS graded MS64RD example offered here is a nice example for the grade and is in a brand new Secure Plus holder. The coin shows the variety very well and the color of the coin is a very even and nice bright lustrous red. The coin does exhibit some light spotting, including one larger spot just off Lincoln's chin. The light spotting likely limited the grade of this coin to MS64RD but is not as prominent in hand as it may appear in the close up photos. Nevertheless, the coin is a good example of the variety for the grade. |