comments on this auction

snapmohr

Just curious, any comments?
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=3902745793&category=31373

fullerfun4

Why would a Lincoln cent have VDB initials? It was designed by Gasparro, not Vivtor Brenner. A 1989 mint state cent is worth about .10 if you're lucky. Right?

JohnZ

The Lincoln cent was in fact designed by Victor D. Brenner. In it's first year of issue (1909), the coin had his initials placed onto the reverse, but many people at the time felt that a US coin should not be the place to pubically advertise an individual artist, and they were quickly removed. The 1909 VDB is sought after by type collectors.

snapmohr

my point exactly , just thought it was funny!
snapmohr

JohnZ

As TJ mentions in the next post, this coin could be an error.

tjkillian

You guys are scary! The Lincoln cent had the designers intitials on the reverse in 1909 only. Later in the year it was removed. In 1918 it was restored, to the obverse where it remains TODAY!. Look on the left side of the obverse between Lincoln's bust and the rim and you should see a tinny, tiny V.D.B. One without is an error, whether it is worth anything, I don't know.

Tom

JohnZ

You're right Tom. My bad. Major brain fart.

joeyuk

According to Breens, which should be taken with a grain of salt, Mint Engraver Barber was enraged Brenner's initals(VDB) would be confused with the letter B he used. Brenner's initals were restored to the obverse Jan. 1918. A few months after Barbers death.