1909-S VDB cent - what makes it fake? (or is it actually genuine?!)

TallahasseeCoinClub

MsMorrisine

counterfeit!

no period between D and B

i'd check the mm position, but there is an easier tell than the period and mm position:
the deep N in united. compare to a genuine svdb and you'll see the N there is shallow

Batman23

Added mintmark? I think the mintmark is the wrong style.

robec

The N in UNITED on the reverse is the deep cut, should be the shallow.

MFeld

@robec said:
The N in UNITED on the reverse is the deep cut, should be the shallow.

The S mintmark looks off, also.

RedRocket

Counterfeit or altered?

johnny9434

if its altered its counterfeit (round about way)

TallahasseeCoinClub

Thanks very much. As a collective, you all nailed the exact same concerns I had. I will let the owner know that this example should be counterfeit until proven otherwise (i.e. by a TPG or knowledgeable dealer).

MsMorrisine

@TallahasseeCoinClub said:
Thanks very much. As a collective, you all nailed the exact same concerns I had. I will let the owner know that this example should be counterfeit until proven otherwise (i.e. by a TPG or knowledgeable dealer).

there will be no proven otherwise. it's 100% a counterfeit. 0.00% doubt

MJPHELAN

Not a known mint mark position.

mr1931S

@MsMorrisine said:
counterfeit!

no period between D and B

i'd check the mm position, but there is an easier tell than the period and mm position:
the deep N in united. compare to a genuine svdb and you'll see the N there is shallow

The mm position seen in the OP coin is unknown for 1909-S and 1909-S V.D.B. Lincoln cent. There is really no need to look at the reverse. The piece is a fake, and a poor one at that.

JDark

I did check for a "whispering VDB".

mr1931S

Harsche does note in Detecting Altered Coins that it is well-known that some V.D.B.s as seen on authentic 1909-S V.D.B. cents are very faint, "whispering," if you will.