1909-S VDB Cent Data
RogerB
Posts: 8,852 ✭✭✭✭✭
Collectors love 1909-S VDB cents, so here is some data that will be of interest to many. The top table was published in an article I wrote in 2006. The bottom table is a recent analysis from the same original data. (In late 1909, Mint Director Andrew requested lists of all dies used during the year, and the number of pieces struck from each die. These data were supplied by all the Mints. This is the only year for which these details exist. Normally, the only statements were of total ties used and average number of pieces struck.)
Ten pairs of 1909 dies were initially sent to San Francisco. When the notice arrived to cease production with the VDB reverse dies, this mint had used only 5 reverse dies paired with 4 obverse dies. All the VDB reverse dies were returned to Philadelphia on August 12.
Comments
Interesting report.
Thanks for the research.
Nice to know.
The four obverse dies
Rick - Wonderful link. Now we can match observation with documentation, each independent of the other, for the four S-VDB obverses.
Excellent information. Has anyone done the same work with denoting the different reverse dies as they have with the obverse? Looks like die 202 did some overtime on the no vdb cents.
I'm hoping someone has -- I've drafted an article pulling the pieces together, but there's a big gap for reverses. Reverse dies will be harder to identify because the initials were part of the hub.
The reason the obverses are "easy" is we have a big "S" to examine for position. Note: some folks believe that more than 4 obverse dies were used but the positional difference is so minute that it will take some "work" to prove.
The reverses can be mapped by die breaks, one specific clash, and the occasionally seen die polish on gems. Unfortunately. the "periods" between the VDB tend to get filled.
Excellent info indeed.
Thanks for sharing it.
Donato
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Great info I the 1909-VDB S was my first love so to speak and the one coin I always wanted as a kid.
I wonder what number each corresponds to in the figures above. 201 produced a lot less coins than the others.
Only two 1909-S Indian reverse dies are known and they are easy to distinguish. It should be easy to assign which die was #21 and which was #22.
Great information on this coin... Although not as rare as so many people assume, it is still a desirable coin for Lincoln collectors (and others)..... Cheers, RickO
Right. There's a considerable difference in mintage between the two dies, That should show up in modern coin counts - possibly even TPG population reports.