Let's see some 1909-S-VDB Lincoln Cents

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CoinHoarder
CoinHoarder Posts: 2,736 ✭✭✭✭✭
in U.S. Coin Forum

In 1992, I bought this at my local coin store for $500. I almost never owned it.

I was browsing the store, and I noticed the owner and a customer looking at a raw 1909-S-VDB cent. The man offered to buy the coin. He told the owner that he would be back to pay for it, and to hang on to it until he returned.

After the man left, I asked the owner if I could look at the coin. I couldn't see any problems with it, and I really liked the look of it. I was disappointed that the coin was spoken for. I told the owner: "If you ever get another 09-S-VDB that looks like this one, let me know."

I returned to the shop a few days later. The owner told me that the man decided he did not want the coin, because it did not match the rest of his set. I immediately told the owner that I would take it.

I told the owner that I did not have $500 at the moment. I asked if I could put it on layaway. Not a problem. He put it in a paper bag, and every payment I made he noted on the bag. After a few months, the coin was paid in full, and I was the proud owner of this coin. :)



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  • oldabeintx
    oldabeintx Posts: 3,214 ✭✭✭✭✭
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    @WaterSport said:
    I have two and this is the first one I bought for my Capitol Plastics board back in 2000 from Cyber Space Coins for $900.

    You sure about the purchase date? I bought a slabbed 64RB around that time for about $1,000.

  • mr1931S
    mr1931S Posts: 7,314 ✭✭✭✭✭
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    @CoinHoarder said:
    In 1992, I bought this at my local coin store for $500. I almost never owned it.

    I was browsing the store, and I noticed the owner and a customer looking at a raw 1909-S-VDB cent. The man offered to buy the coin. He told the owner that he would be back to pay for it, and to hang on to it until he returned.

    After the man left, I asked the owner if I could look at the coin. I couldn't see any problems with it, and I really liked the look of it. I was disappointed that the coin was spoken for. I told the owner: "If you ever get another 09-S-VDB that looks like this one, let me know."

    I returned to the shop a few days later. The owner told me that the man decided he did not want the coin, because it did not match the rest of his set. I immediately told the owner that I would take it.

    I told the owner that I did not have $500 at the moment. I asked if I could put it on layaway. Not a problem. He put it in a paper bag, and every payment I made he noted on the bag. After a few months, the coin was paid in full, and I was the proud owner of this coin. :)



    Looks choice uncirculated to me.

    "Two things are infinite: human stupidity and the universe; and I'm not sure about the universe."
    -Albert Einstein-

    Mistakes are natural. But repeated mistakes without reflection are something else. That may be the “stupidity” he was referring to. In research, he admitted uncertainty openly. “If we knew what it was we were doing, it would not be called research, would it?” This shows humility. Even a Nobel laureate accepted doubt. That humility makes the quote less cynical and more observational.

  • Ike1964
    Ike1964 Posts: 290 ✭✭✭
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    @CoinHoarder said:
    In 1992, I bought this at my local coin store for $500. I almost never owned it.

    I was browsing the store, and I noticed the owner and a customer looking at a raw 1909-S-VDB cent. The man offered to buy the coin. He told the owner that he would be back to pay for it, and to hang on to it until he returned.

    After the man left, I asked the owner if I could look at the coin. I couldn't see any problems with it, and I really liked the look of it. I was disappointed that the coin was spoken for. I told the owner: "If you ever get another 09-S-VDB that looks like this one, let me know."

    I returned to the shop a few days later. The owner told me that the man decided he did not want the coin, because it did not match the rest of his set. I immediately told the owner that I would take it.

    I told the owner that I did not have $500 at the moment. I asked if I could put it on layaway. Not a problem. He put it in a paper bag, and every payment I made he noted on the bag. After a few months, the coin was paid in full, and I was the proud owner of this coin. :)



    I could see a gold CAC sticker on this coin. A great coin with a great story.

    https://www.pcgs.com/setregistry/mysetregistry/set/172592, PCGS w/CAC Key Date Coins, PCGS Grading Set Coins, Sample Slabs, Doily Labels.

  • Coinscratch
    Coinscratch Posts: 11,086 ✭✭✭✭✭
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    Platinum.

  • JimTyler
    JimTyler Posts: 4,101 ✭✭✭✭✭
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    Almost bought one recently but someone else bought it while I was kicking tires 😩

  • Connecticoin
    Connecticoin Posts: 13,278 ✭✭✭✭✭
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    @Coinscratch said:
    @CoinHoarder
    Nice story and it looks under-graded - big time!

    Yeah looks like a 64RD to me!

    *For Sale on Ebay*
  • Creg
    Creg Posts: 1,736 ✭✭✭✭✭
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    I found this in a small hoard of wheats and volume one folders—

  • ShipwreckCoinHunter
    ShipwreckCoinHunter Posts: 1,990 ✭✭✭✭✭
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    Recent pickup. Happy to finally have one after many years of collecting. The lore of the 1909-s VDB is what got me obsessed with collecting rare coins in the first place.

  • Tramp
    Tramp Posts: 992 ✭✭✭✭✭
    edited April 20, 2026 4:05PM
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    My #2 Dansco. Bought this raw, one of very few I've bought raw, when I returned to coin collecting over 10 years ago. I decided to send it in and it came back unfortunately as AU details; my tuition. I'm much wiser now but it's still a nice looking coin.

    USAF (Ret.) 1985 - 2005. E-4B Aircraft Maint. Crew Chief and Contracting Officer.
    ✓ Everyman Mint State Carson City Morgan Dollars (1878 – 1893)
    ✓ Morgan Dollar GSA Hoard (1878 – 1891)
    ✓ Everyman Mint State Lincoln Cents (1909 – 1958)
    ✓ Matte Proof Toned Lincoln Cents (1909 – 1916)

  • nwcoast
    nwcoast Posts: 2,906 ✭✭✭✭✭
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    Some cool, unique and great coins so far!
    All are appreciated given the status of this key date/mm
    Here’s mine. Purchased raw and submitted to our hosts.
    Came in as an XF-40 and considered to be better than that by many that have viewed it.

    Happy, humble, honored and proud recipient of the “You Suck” award 10/22/2014

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