How Much Is A 1909-S VDB Lincoln Cent Worth?

Values for the 1909-S VDB cent run from about $700–$850 (Good (G-4)) to $2,500–$3,500 (MS-65 Red). Here is what separates the bottom of that range from the top — and how to find out where your coin lands.

History of the 1909-S VDB Lincoln Cent

The 1909-S VDB is the king of Lincoln cents. When the new Lincoln design debuted in 1909, sculptor Victor David Brenner placed his initials V.D.B. prominently on the reverse. Public criticism of the "advertising" led the Mint to remove the initials within days — but not before San Francisco had struck just 484,000 coins.

That tiny mintage, combined with the cent being the most widely collected series in America, created a permanent supply-and-demand imbalance. Generations of collectors filling Whitman folders have kept the 1909-S VDB slot empty, and demand shows no sign of fading a century later.

The 1909-S VDB cent was struck in 1909 only in bronze (95% copper). The design is the work of Victor David Brenner. Each coin weighs 3.11 grams and measures 19.05 mm across. Production took place at San Francisco (S), with only 484,000 struck.

How much is a 1909-S VDB cent worth?

Prices for the 1909-S VDB cent move with the collector market. Use the ranges below as a starting point for problem-free examples, not as a guarantee.

For a market check, recent sold results for the same coin in the same grade beat out-of-date price guides every time. AI Coin Collector shows the Numista catalogue price per grade for every coin it recognizes: a reference point, not a sale price or an offer.

  • Good (G-4): $700–$850
  • Fine (F-12): $900–$1,100
  • Extremely Fine (XF-40): $1,200–$1,500
  • MS-63 Red-Brown: $1,800–$2,200
  • MS-65 Red: $2,500–$3,500

Key dates, mint marks and varieties

Not every 1909-S VDB cent is equal. A small mint mark or a die variety can multiply the value many times over, so check your coin against this list before assuming it is a common example:

  • 1909 VDB (Philadelphia) — common and affordable, often confused with the rare S version.
  • 1909-S without VDB — scarce in its own right, but a fraction of the VDB price.
  • S over horizontal S repunched mint mark — a collectible sub-variety of the 1909-S VDB.

How to identify a genuine 1909-S VDB Lincoln Cent

Authentication starts with the basics: weight, diameter, design details and the way the surfaces look. For the 1909-S VDB cent, check the following:

If anything feels off — the weight is wrong, the details are mushy, or the surfaces look cast rather than struck — get a second opinion before buying or selling. Valuable dates are exactly the coins counterfeiters target most.

  • The S mint mark and VDB initials must both be present — the S sits below the date, the initials at the bottom of the reverse between the wheat stalks.
  • Genuine S mint marks of 1909 have parallel top and bottom serifs; added mint marks often sit at the wrong angle or show glue seams under magnification.
  • The VDB initials should be sharp and evenly spaced; fakes made by adding initials to a 1909-S are cruder than the originals.
  • Weight should be 3.11 grams with a diameter of 19.05 mm.

Check your 1909-S VDB cent with AI Coin Collector

Instead of squinting at grainy auction photos, snap a picture with AI Coin Collector. Our own AI vision model suggests the type for you to confirm, the app estimates a Sheldon-scale grade from 1 to 70, and you see the Numista catalogue price per grade.

From there you can add the coin to a collection, see the collection’s total value and export it to CSV. The app is free to start and comes to Android first.

Frequently asked questions

How much is a 1909-S VDB cent worth?

Broadly, examples at the bottom of the market (Good (G-4)) trade around $700–$850, while the strongest pieces (MS-65 Red) bring $2,500–$3,500. Grade, rarity and eye appeal decide where a specific coin lands, and problem-free coins always bring the best prices.

How can I tell if my 1909-S VDB cent is genuine?

Start with the physical basics: the S mint mark and VDB initials must both be present — the S sits below the date, the initials at the bottom of the reverse between the wheat stalks. Counterfeits usually fail on weight, dimensions or fine die details, so compare your coin against verified reference photos before paying a premium.

Can an app identify and value my 1909-S VDB cent?

Yes. AI Coin Collector suggests an identification from a single photo using our own AI vision model — you check and adjust it — estimates a Sheldon grade from 1 to 70, and shows the Numista catalogue price per grade.

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