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Pretty neat article on The Elusive 1910 'VDB' Cent
kimber45ACP
Posts: 2,399 ✭✭✭
Probably old news to most, but kind of neat:
By Dr. Sol Taylor
"Making Cents"
Saturday, May 10, 2008
In August 1909, the two United States Mints began releasing the new 1909 Lincoln cent — some 3/4-million from San Francisco and 26 million from the Philadelphia Mint. By the end of the first week, Chief Mint Engraver Charles Barber ordered production halted and all working dies with the initials "VDB" (Victor D. Brenner, the coin's designer) to be removed.
It was evident to me, many years later as a serious collector of Lincoln cents, that many 1909 "no VDB" cents had abrasion marks on the lower reverse where the dies were tooled to remove the initials.
Several hundred dies that were used, as well as hundreds of others awaiting use, were taken to the metal shop to have the initials removed. These dies were used later in the year to produce many of the new coins. In addition, new dies with no evidence of any initials came on line and produced the bulk of the remaining 1909 coins.
I noted many years ago that many uncirculated 1910 cents also showed these same abrasion marks on the lower reverse.
I concluded that some 1909 dies which had their initials removed were put into service in 1910 — since they saw so little (or no) use in the first week of August 1909.
It was around 1964 that I concluded that it was possible that some 1910 cents might bear traces of the "VDB" initials if not carefully removed in 1909. I published an article to that effect in the Numismatic Association of Southern California's NASC Quarterly. At the time, no one had seriously explored the possibility, and certainly no one had found any 1910 "VDB" cents.
It wasn't until 1985 that I found a 1910 cent in mint condition with traces of the "VDB." I sent it to Coin World. They returned it, uncertain if the marks were parts of the "VDB" or stray abrasion traces. No photograph was able to bring out the initial traces.
About 1995, Bill Fivaz (coauthor of "Cherrypickers' Guide to Rare Die Varieties") sent a certified matte proof 1910 cent to the Society of Lincoln Cent Collectors with pretty clear evidence of a "D" in the proper location of the "VDB" initials. That coin has been sold at least twice since then. However, once again, no certification service would certify the initial.
In an auction conducted by Bowers & Merena in the mid 1990s, Dave Bowers commented on a 1909-S VDB cent in the sale stating that the coin was originally listed as "1909-S." Later, under more careful scrutiny, it was evident that there were the tops of "VDB" on the reverse. He added that such faint "VDB" cents could easily pass casual inspection.
In several conversations over the years, Bowers admitted it was likely that a few 1910 "VDB" cents could exist, and he would love to see one. The specimen I found in 1985 was sold to a Brooklyn coin dealer who agreed that the tops of the VDB were there, and he has since resold it to a collector.
In the reference book on Lincoln cents by Flynn & Wexler, a full page is devoted to this enigmatic variety, and two photos which may actually show portions of the "VDB." To date, at least three other reputed 1910 "VDB" cents have been reported, but none has been certified by a major grading service. It is clear, however, that dies which originally had the "VDB" were used to produce coins in 1909 as well as in 1910.
Once a clearly defined specimen is located, all my speculation and research may bear fruit.
1910 "VDB"
By Dr. Sol Taylor
"Making Cents"
Saturday, May 10, 2008
In August 1909, the two United States Mints began releasing the new 1909 Lincoln cent — some 3/4-million from San Francisco and 26 million from the Philadelphia Mint. By the end of the first week, Chief Mint Engraver Charles Barber ordered production halted and all working dies with the initials "VDB" (Victor D. Brenner, the coin's designer) to be removed.
It was evident to me, many years later as a serious collector of Lincoln cents, that many 1909 "no VDB" cents had abrasion marks on the lower reverse where the dies were tooled to remove the initials.
Several hundred dies that were used, as well as hundreds of others awaiting use, were taken to the metal shop to have the initials removed. These dies were used later in the year to produce many of the new coins. In addition, new dies with no evidence of any initials came on line and produced the bulk of the remaining 1909 coins.
I noted many years ago that many uncirculated 1910 cents also showed these same abrasion marks on the lower reverse.
I concluded that some 1909 dies which had their initials removed were put into service in 1910 — since they saw so little (or no) use in the first week of August 1909.
It was around 1964 that I concluded that it was possible that some 1910 cents might bear traces of the "VDB" initials if not carefully removed in 1909. I published an article to that effect in the Numismatic Association of Southern California's NASC Quarterly. At the time, no one had seriously explored the possibility, and certainly no one had found any 1910 "VDB" cents.
It wasn't until 1985 that I found a 1910 cent in mint condition with traces of the "VDB." I sent it to Coin World. They returned it, uncertain if the marks were parts of the "VDB" or stray abrasion traces. No photograph was able to bring out the initial traces.
About 1995, Bill Fivaz (coauthor of "Cherrypickers' Guide to Rare Die Varieties") sent a certified matte proof 1910 cent to the Society of Lincoln Cent Collectors with pretty clear evidence of a "D" in the proper location of the "VDB" initials. That coin has been sold at least twice since then. However, once again, no certification service would certify the initial.
In an auction conducted by Bowers & Merena in the mid 1990s, Dave Bowers commented on a 1909-S VDB cent in the sale stating that the coin was originally listed as "1909-S." Later, under more careful scrutiny, it was evident that there were the tops of "VDB" on the reverse. He added that such faint "VDB" cents could easily pass casual inspection.
In several conversations over the years, Bowers admitted it was likely that a few 1910 "VDB" cents could exist, and he would love to see one. The specimen I found in 1985 was sold to a Brooklyn coin dealer who agreed that the tops of the VDB were there, and he has since resold it to a collector.
In the reference book on Lincoln cents by Flynn & Wexler, a full page is devoted to this enigmatic variety, and two photos which may actually show portions of the "VDB." To date, at least three other reputed 1910 "VDB" cents have been reported, but none has been certified by a major grading service. It is clear, however, that dies which originally had the "VDB" were used to produce coins in 1909 as well as in 1910.
Once a clearly defined specimen is located, all my speculation and research may bear fruit.
1910 "VDB"
1
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ken.
Here's a variety that I believe may exist since this stuff is right up your alley. But zoom ahead to the last post to see a picture. Breen also took note of the 1982 (now debunked varieties). But what he did was take someone else's word for it and cataloged the coins in his....well, catalog. Nagengast did the same thing in his Analyst. No one took a closer look at the 1982 varieties since Dwight Stuckey discovery in 1982 It wasn't until I came along and put the brakes on all those varieties, all due to the missing tiny star on the 1982 varieties. What happened to it? An important reason to watch your die states.
There's another confusing mint year production in the Jefferson series but still working on it.......trying to locate it before anyone else.
Leo
The more qualities observed in a coin, the more desirable that coin becomes!
My Jefferson Nickel Collection
<< <i>About 1995, Bill Fivaz (coauthor of "Cherrypickers' Guide to Rare Die Varieties") sent a certified matte proof 1910 cent to the Society of Lincoln Cent Collectors with pretty clear evidence of a "D" in the proper location of the "VDB" initials. That coin has been sold at least twice since then. However, once again, no certification service would certify the initial. >>
That would be pretty amazing, since there were not one but two distinctively different reverses used for the 1909 "plain" proof cent. I seriously doubt that any certified proof 1910 would use the same dies as the VDB, with only the initials ground off. Still, if the 1910's VDB reverse was actually made with the VDB proof die, there are other die markers that should be evident, like the crescent shaped die chip next to the M in UNUM.
Ahem.
Empty Nest Collection
Removing them from the working Hubs would have left abrasion marks and a flat plain where the initials used to be similar to the photo above.
The name is LEE!
Why the 1909 and 1909-S aren't considered variety II's of the 1909 VDB and 1909-S-VDB? Since the scratches that obscured the initials are clearly visible and prove that the working dies were produced to mint 1909-VDB and 1909-S-VDB Lincoln cents.
No different if they had scratched out the dates. The VDB initials would have told us the cents were made in 1909. Duh!
The chit folks thought up back in those days never ceases to amaze me!
Leo
The more qualities observed in a coin, the more desirable that coin becomes!
My Jefferson Nickel Collection
<< <i>1909 plain, reverse:
Maybe I'm seeing things, but it looks like I can see a clear "V" on that reverse. Is it in the correct position where the "V" would have been?
No actual letters are visible, but there are 3 obvious spots of different reflectivity in the metal exactly corresponding to where the VDB letters ought to be.
http://www.shieldnickels.net
<< <i>Here's a photo of one possibility for a '10 VDB:
No actual letters are visible, but there are 3 obvious spots of different reflectivity in the metal exactly corresponding to where the VDB letters ought to be. >>
I see it. In fact, it looks like the bottom part of the "V" is visible.
I used to be famous now I just collect coins.
Link to My Registry Set.
https://pcgs.com/setregistry/quarters/washington-quarters-specialty-sets/washington-quarters-complete-variety-set-circulation-strikes-1932-1964/publishedset/78469
Varieties Are The Spice Of LIFE and Thanks to Those who teach us what to search For.
Most of them are satellite shots.
<< <i>
<< <i>Here's a photo of one possibility for a '10 VDB:
No actual letters are visible, but there are 3 obvious spots of different reflectivity in the metal exactly corresponding to where the VDB letters ought to be. >>
I see it. In fact, it looks like the bottom part of the "V" is visible.
I do see it. The V and the left part of the D.