Interesting Lincoln Cent fact that you can't answer with Google.

DMWJR · November 19, 2005 5:07AM

What was Victor David Brenner's real name?

goose3 · November 19, 2005 5:10AM

Yul.

kranky · November 19, 2005 5:17AM

I found it with Google!

But I won't spoil it by posting the answer.

I didn't know that he had changed his name.

DMWJR · November 19, 2005 5:17AM

Yul Brenner ..... The King and I ...... The King of Siam.......Coin set recently sold..........

Yes, I see a coin connection, but you are WRONG!

ss350camaro · November 19, 2005 5:17AM

<< <i>What was Victor David Brenner's real name? >>

Victor David Brenner ?

(I guess i didn't know that wasn't his given name ?

)

DMWJR · November 19, 2005 5:18AM

<< <i>I found it with Google!

But I won't spoil it by posting the answer.

I didn't know that he had changed his name. >>

Very interesting is it not? I don't know that many people, even coin collectors, know that the famous name was a fiction.

MikeInFL · November 19, 2005 5:23AM

What's the answer?..Mike

66Tbird · November 19, 2005 5:55AM

Text

MrSpud · November 19, 2005 6:12AM

I just asked Jeeves and Jeeves said that the initials should have been ADB

MrSpud · November 19, 2005 6:17AM

But suprisingly, when I searched Google my Google Results says that it should indeed be VDB

XpipedreamR · November 19, 2005 6:17AM

Brankauskas, I believe.

DMWJR · November 19, 2005 6:19AM

On June 12, 1871, Victoras Barnauskaus was born in Shavli, Lithuania to Jewish parents. When Victoras was ten, his father taught him the art of engraving and seal making. At thirteen, he became a full time apprentice in his father’s shop. He spent the next five years creating jewelry, headstones, seals and stamps used with molten wax to seal letters.

In 1889, at the urging of co-workers, he accepted a commission to create a copy of the seal of a local government official in the town of Kovno, Lithuania. When the seal was completed, Barnauskaus was arrested and charged with counterfeiting. It was illegal to make an unauthorized reproduction of a government seal and Barnauskaus had accepted the commission from undercover police officers. He was convicted and sentenced to a Siberian labor camp. It is thought that his co-workers may have been jealous of his superior skill and arranged for undercover police to entice Barnauskaus with the phony commission. Right before he was sent to Siberia, friends and family helped him slip out of the country and he made his way to America where he changed his name to Victor David Brenner. He managed to open a small studio and achieved success as a medalist.

In 1908, Brenner was asked to create a plaquette and medal in recognition of the centennial of Abraham Lincoln’s birth. Brenner chose a February 9, 1864 photograph of Lincoln as his model.

XpipedreamR · November 19, 2005 6:21AM

That's what I meant

MrSpud · November 19, 2005 6:24AM

Here is what Jeeves said:

"William Bryk’s article "Pennies" ("Old Smoke," 5/9) was fascinating. I especially enjoyed the comprehensive biography of Wheat Cent designer Victor (Avigdor) David Brenner (1871-1924)."

Wouldn't this make the initials ADB?

DMWJR · November 19, 2005 6:28AM

I don't think Bryk's version is correct. The first place I saw the name Victoras Barnauskaus was in David Lange's book.

Another interesting question would be whether he became a citizen of the US? I don't know the answer to this one. Maybe someone else does.

BuffaloIronTail · November 19, 2005 6:51AM

You know that originally, Brenners last name was spelled out on the Obverse, removed, of course, to make room for mottos and such.

I could see Charles Barbers face (Chief Engraver) right now if he looked and saw Barnauskaus there.

He might have passed away right there, instead of in 1917.

Pete

TwoSides2aCoin · November 19, 2005 7:25AM

Doug, thanks for posting this. Interesting piece of history.

EagleEye · November 19, 2005 3:16PM

I wonder if he went by Dave Brenner as in V. David Brenner, or Victor Brenner. Maybe his family called him Victor and customers called him David or Dave.

Conder101 · November 20, 2005 12:43AM

<< <i>You know that originally, Brenners last name was spelled out on the Obverse, removed, of course, to make room for mottos and such. >>

It would not have had to have been moved to mke room for mottos. The BRENNER was in the same location as the initials eventually appeared. Barber simply objected to the use of the full name. The first suggested comprimise was just to use his last initial, B. Of course Barber went balistic over that suggestion, because HIS initial B was on the dime quarter and half and he wanted no confusion over who designed what.

I never saw anything where his name was on the obverse.

Interesting Lincoln Cent fact that you can't answer with Google.

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