The 1909 VDB Lincoln Cent was the first
Lincoln Cent issued in the series which has now lasted over 100 years.
The 1909 VDB is also a one-year type coin as it was the only year the
designer's initials were located on the reverse of the coin. After only
a couple of weeks of production, Brenner's initials were removed from
the reverse of the coin, creating this highly popular variety.
Surprisingly, during the short run of production of 1909 VDB Lincoln
Cents, two different doubled die obverse varieties were produced. The
second of which, designated as FS-1102 is said to be more rare than the
FS-1101, though it is not as expensive as the more collected FS-1101
which shows more extreme doubling. The doubling on the obverse of the
FS-1102 can be seen with an extra thickness on the first 9 in 1909 as
well as in the letters of LIBERTY, particularly in the B and R. Other
diagnostics of the FS-1102 include die clashing under Lincoln's chin and
under the C of CENT on the reverse.
This example of the 1909 VDB Lincoln Cent Doubled Die Obverse FS-1102
(Die 2) has been graded MS66RD by PCGS and is encapsulated in one of
their newer edge-view holders. The coin is bright red and lustrous and
shows the variety very well. Only a small hit just above LIBERTY behind
Lincoln's head and a couple of tiny marks on the reverse keep the coin
from a higher grade. A few tiny carbon spots show under magnification,
but coin is very appealing to the naked eye. To date, PCGS has
attributed only thirteen (13) examples of this variety in the MS66RD
grade with only a single MS67RD example known to be graded higher. Just
about the best example of this 1909 VDB DDO variety that you can buy. |