Mintage: 484,000
The 1909 S VDB is the Key Date in the
Lincoln cent collection. It has the lowest
regular mintage in the Lincoln Cent series.
The initials V.D.B. are those of Victor D.
Brenner who designed both the obverse and
reverse of the Lincoln Cent. Three days into
the production of the Lincoln Cent,
Washington D.C. ordered the Mint to remove
the initials. Brenner's initials were replaced
on the bottom of Lincoln's bust in 1917.
Several counterfeits of this coin exist. Buying
certified examples is strongly recommended.
There were four obverse dies used. "The
mintmark should have parallel serifs with a
groove or notch in the right serif. There is
also a die chip in the upper loop." - The
complete Lincoln Cent Encyclopedia pg. 40.