1909 1 Cent Lincoln VDB F

First-year Lincoln Wheat Cent – with A Twist of Historical Controversy!

The Lincoln Wheat Cents were struck from 1909 to 1958, and as with all coins, the first year of any mintage is always of particular interest to collectors. Your 1909 Lincoln Wheat Cent takes on additional value though, given the controversy surrounding its designer.

Victor D. Brenner was a sculptor, engraver and medalist whose work captured the attention of Theodore Roosevelt, 26th president of the United States. Roosevelt chose Brenner to design the Lincoln Cent, based on an earlier work of the sculptor's. The Lincoln Wheat Cent was minted in 1909, celebrating the one hundredth anniversary of Lincoln's birthday. The controversy arose when Brenner placed his initials VDB prominently at the base of the reverse of the coin. Public outcry due to the size of the letters quickly led to the initials being removed from the Lincoln Cent - and they did not appear again until 1918.

As a result, very very few of the Lincoln Wheat Cent were minted with Victor D. Brenner's "scandalous" initials. . . but they're available to you now through GovMint.com!

The Lincoln Cent is the longest-running U.S. coin design in our nation's history, and in 1909 these coins were struck in 95% copper. This resulted in a very different look than today's modern pennies - and a higher value as well. Based on prices for these metals today, the metal of your Wheat Cent is worth more than its face value.

But, despite its long history and several changes to the reverse of the coin, the stoic image of Abraham Lincoln has appeared on the U.S. cent for more than 100 years. The obverse displays that Victor D. Brenner design to perfection, featuring a portrait of Lincoln facing right. Surmounting Lincoln is the motto "IN GOD WE TRUST" - marking the first time that motto was used on the cent. The obverse also includes the date "1909" and the inscription "LIBERTY." The reverse of the Wheat Cent is where the coin draws its name. It depicts two sheaves of wheat, one on either side of the inscriptions "ONE CENT," "E PLURIBUS UNUM" and "UNITED STATES OF AMERICA." And, of course, at the bottom of your 1909 VDB Wheat Cent, are the initials of its famous designer.

The condition of this coin is Fine, indicating that your coin should display moderate to heavy even wear. This was a coin that didn't spend its life in a box, but in some of the most tumultuous times of American history - surviving two world wars! Not only is it first-in-a-series, but with the "VDB" inscription at the base of the reverse, this Lincoln Wheat Cent is a must-have for any serious collector. It can be a part of your collection today, through GovMint.com.