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1909-S VDB penny value

The 1909-S VDB Lincoln cent is the most famous cent in US coinage: the first year of the Lincoln cent, struck in San Francisco, with the designer's initials V.D.B. on the reverse. A circulated example guides at $700–$1,500, and a dealer might pay about $450–$1,050. The catch: raw examples on eBay are flooded with $29–$151 fakes.

The three numbers that matter

Prices as of Oct 24, 2026 · Silver spot $53.80/ozt (Kitco) · Circulated, common date, problem-free, raw (uncertified) unless stated

Melt floor
~$0.03
Bronze, 3.11 g. No silver — the melt is irrelevant. The value is entirely the date, mint mark, and initials.
Asking & guide range
$700–$1,500
Circulated, raw. Guides, Oct 2026 (NGC Auction Central 1-yr average $1,538.86 VF-35; CoinsValue G-4 $400–$650; Ten11 $700–$900).
Dealer might pay
~$450–$1,050
Estimate inferred at 60–70% of the guide — not a firm bid. A dealer must authenticate it first.

Only 484,000 were struck — the lowest mintage Lincoln cent. The V.D.B. initials sit at the bottom of the wheat reverse; a 1909-S without them is a different (cheaper) coin. Never buy or sell a raw 1909-S VDB without certification.

How to tell it

Three things must all be true: the date reads 1909, there is an 'S' mint mark below the date on the obverse, and the initials 'V.D.B.' appear at the bottom of the reverse (the wheat side), between the wheat stalks. If any one is missing, it is not the 1909-S VDB.

The fake problem

The 1909-S VDB is one of the most counterfeited US coins. Common fakes: an 'S' added to a 1909 VDB Philadelphia cent, a 'V.D.B.' added to a 1909-S, and outright counterfeits. Raw examples listed on eBay for $29–$151 are fakes — a genuine circulated example starts around $700. Certification (PCGS/NGC) is not optional here.

What to do with it

  1. Do not clean it.
  2. Get it certified. A certified 1909-S VDB is worth far more than the same coin raw, because the buyer does not have to price in authentication risk.
  3. Get two offers from dealers who handle key-date Lincolns.
Do not clean your coins. Cleaning is the fastest way to destroy collector value — a polished coin can lose half its worth instantly, and no cleaning can be undone. Handle coins by the edges, keep them dry, and leave toning and dullness exactly as they are.
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