Mintmarks and the 1909 VDB An “S” mintmark found under the date of a Lincoln Wheat Penny indicates that the penny was minted by the San Francisco Mint.
What is the value of a 1909 S VDB penny?
CoinTrackers.com has estimated the 1909 S Vdb Wheat Penny value at an average of $950.00, one in certified mint state (MS+) could be worth $2,200.
How can you tell a fake 1909 S VDB penny?
Genuine Mint Marks will also display parallel serifs. If you look at mint mark below labeled “Parallel Mint Mark” the two serifs point in the same direction vertically, in a parallel position. Genuine 1909-S VDB cents will have the VDB initials slightly slanted, specifically on the central crossbar of the letter “B.”
How can you tell the value of a wheat penny?
In the case of the Wheat Penny, we have three possibilities. How to determine the value of Wheat Pennies. We need to look at the small lettering just below the year embossment. If it doesn’t have any letters, it was minted at the main Philadelphia Mint. If we find an S, it was coined in San Francisco. If we find a D, then Denver is its origin.
Where are the initials on a Lincoln wheat penny?
Originally, the obverse of the coin contained Brenner’s signature. This was removed at the request of Mint Director Frank A. Leech. Instead, Brenner added his initials “V.D.B.” to the reverse of the coin at the bottom between the stalks of the wheat ears.
Where does the mint mark go on a US penny?
The location of the mint mark will vary depending upon the type of coin. It has been a tradition in the United States that coins minted at the Philadelphia, Pennsylvania facility do not carry a mint mark since this is the main production facility for the mint.
Where did the mintmark go on the 1909 VDB?
In 1909, mintmarks were still being hand-punched into the die at the Philadelphia Mint before the dies were shipped to the branch mints. As a result, the position of the mintmark can vary from die to die. Researchers have determined that only four obverse dies were used to strike 1909-S VDB Cents, each with a slightly different mintmark placement.