The single coin in your photo, a 1909-S VDB Wheat Penny, is not just a piece of copper and zinc; it is a monument to history, controversy, and extreme rarity. While the $15 million figure mentioned in the caption is a dramatic exaggeration—the actual top auction price for this specific coin, a magnificent MS67 Red example, is documented to be closer to $168,000 to over $175,000—its legendary status makes it a metaphorical “million-dollar coin” in the numismatic world. It is, without a doubt, the undisputed king of the Lincoln Cent series.
A Controversial Beginning
The story of the 1909-S VDB cent is a thrilling tale of presidential mandate and public outcry. In 1909, the U.S. Mint released a new cent to commemorate the 100th anniversary of Abraham Lincoln’s birth. Designed by the talented Lithuanian-American sculptor Victor David Brenner, this coin was revolutionary, marking the first time a real historical figure (not a personification like Liberty) appeared on a circulating U.S. coin.
The coin’s reverse featured two stalks of wheat—giving the entire series its popular name, the “Wheat Penny”—and Brenner proudly placed his initials, V.D.B., at the base of the design.
The Rarity Factor: San Francisco’s Tiny Mintage
The initial reaction was a mix of awe for the design and a fierce controversy over the prominent “V.D.B.” initials. Critics argued the initials amounted to free advertising. The Mint quickly decided to remove them, but not before a small quantity had been released into circulation.
The key to the coin’s immense value lies in the San Francisco Mint () mark.
- The Philadelphia Mint (no mint mark) struck almost 28 million VDB pennies.
- The San Francisco Mint, however, produced a mere 484,000 of the 1909-S VDB cents before production was halted to remove the initials.
This tiny mintage number instantly created a numismatic legend. Compared to the millions produced at Philadelphia, the San Francisco VDB cent was incredibly scarce, becoming an instant collector’s item that people immediately began hoarding.
The Holy Grail of Coin Collecting
To this day, the 1909-S VDB Wheat Penny is often referred to as the “Holy Grail” of penny collecting. Its value is contingent on its condition, or grade:
- A heavily circulated, low-grade example might still command well over $500.
- An uncirculated piece (Mint State, or MS) can easily sell for thousands of dollars.
- A flawless, red-colored example (designated  for retaining its original copper luster) at the highest grades, like the MS-67 specimens, are the coins that have reached the record-breaking prices in the low six-figures.
The 1909-S VDB penny encapsulates the entire spirit of numismatics: a fusion of American history, artistic controversy, and the thrill of the chase for true rarity. It’s a powerful reminder that sometimes, the smallest denomination can hold the greatest fortune.
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