JarSort · Inherited coin values
1909 VDB penny value
The 1909 VDB is the first Lincoln cent ever made — and one of the most-saved coins in American history. 27,995,000 were struck in Philadelphia, so a circulated one is common and worth $10–$20. The expensive lookalike is the 1909-S VDB, worth $700–$1,500. The only difference is one small letter under the date.
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
Retail from NGC Coin Explorer values and Oct 2026 dealer lists (G-4 $10, VF-20 $12, AU-50 $16; GovMint XF asking $19.95). All figures Oct 24, 2026.
How to tell a 1909 VDB from a 1909-S VDB
Look for the designer’s initials VDB on the reverse, at the bottom of the wheat stalks. Then look under the date on the front: if there is a small S, you have the rare 1909-S VDB ($700–$1,500 circulated) — get it certified before selling, because added-S fakes are common and raw eBay is flooded with $29–$151 replicas. If there is no mint mark, you have the Philadelphia VDB on this page. The 1909-S without VDB is a different coin again (about $90+ in Good).
What moves the price
For circulated coins, very little — $10–$20 covers Good through About Uncirculated. In mint state, colour matters more than the numeric grade: RD (red) is worth far more than RB (red-brown), which is worth more than BN (brown). A bright red uncirculated example can be worth $85–$250; a brown one of the same grade, far less.
No signup wall for your first coin. No AI photo recognition is claimed or used — you confirm year and mint mark yourself.