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 Replies: 14 / Views: 1,863 |
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Pillar of the Community
Russian Federation
5172 Posts |
I mean, it's not like it's that small of a mintage  More clearly: the 1857 large cent actually has a smaller mintage than the 1909-S VDB, as well as being, well, a good half-century older. Nevertheless, the 1909-S VDB is a $400+ coin (probably more) even in Good - and the 1857 large cent can be found for less than that in AU-MS grades. Strange much? Another thing that doesn't exactly help here is that the 1909-S VDB was the first year (and months) of issue for a new type, which should've realistically resulted in it being hoarded that much more, and prices being actually lower (look at 1883 No Cents nickels). So what's up with the 1909-S VDB? I just got very confused *** Moved by Staff to a more appropriate forum. *** |
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Moderator
 United States
187446 Posts |
One word: popularity. There are a lot more Lincoln Cent collectors than there are Large Cent collectors. Quote:
which should've realistically resulted in it being hoarded that much more It was, which is why for the better grades, a 1914-D Lincoln Cent it worth a lot more (because it was not set aside in the same numbers as the 1909-S VDB). The 1909-S VDB is not really rare. I see several of them available at the coin shows. But its status as the King of the Lincoln Cents (the most popular US coin series by far) keeps its value elevated in all grades. |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
1007 Posts |
What jbuck said.
Everyone knows about the 1909 S VDB even non collectors. A friend of mine who knows nothing about coins was talking about the 09 S VDB. He heard about the coin many times but didn't know what VDB meant until I told him. He also didn't believe me what average condition copies sell for. "Why would anyone pay that much for a penny?" was his response. They just don't get it.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
3755 Posts |
Aside from what Jbuck said, I dont think the mintage is a lot. This is the mintage information from CoinWorld: 1909, 1909-S cent: Indian Head : (P): 14,368,470; S: 309,000. Lincoln Head with designer's initials V.D.B.: (P): 27,994,580; S: 484,000. Lincoln Head without V.D.B.: (P): 72,700,420; S: 1,825,000. A mintage of 484,000 would qualify as low IMO. So add popularity and demand to that, and there ya go. I mean a 1921D Merc is worth hundreds in higher grades and has a mintage over a million. But it is a popular series and there is a demand for that coin. The lower the mintage AND a high demand determine that high price. |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
2295 Posts |
I feel the 1909 S VDB is way over priced too, hence why I don't have one. But it is all about demand that determines the price. It is basic economics.  There are many proof coins (like cents and nickels) from the late 1800s that are in incredible condition (like PRF-63+) with only a few thousand mintage and cost a very small fraction of that of a 1909 S VDB in that same grade. Most people don't know about the proof coins from then, hence there is very little demand for them, which keeps their prices quite low. Like what has been said, everyone (even non-collectors) knows about the 1909 S VDB, which is the king of the keys for all denominations, not just the cent. I don't think there is a more popular key coin, covering all denominations, except for those super rare ones (like 1913 V nickel, 1804 dollar, etc) that is more popular and well known. I'm just talking about one that has a sizable mintage (like in the thousands) for a key coin. Edited by wquinn
05/24/2012 2:17 pm
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Bedrock of the Community
United States
20753 Posts |
As noted just popularity.
Sort of like a 1957 Chevy Convertible. Lots of those made too, but just popularity makes them valuable too.
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Pillar of the Community
 Russian Federation
5172 Posts |
Quote:
There are many proof coins (like cents and nickels) from the late 1800s that are in incredible condition (like PRF-63+) with only a few thousand mintage and cost a very small fraction of that of a 1909 S VDB in that same grade. Most people don't know about the proof coins from then, hence there is very little demand for them, which keeps their prices quite low. If that "very small fraction" is under $100 then show me where I can get some  (though they probably won't ship to Russia anyway). Fun fact: Numismedia has prices for some Charlotte and Dahlonega gold dollars in low grades (especially G-4) in the $200 range. If that's actually true (which is probably wrong) that also falls in the "where I can get some" territory. More on-topic is a joke I made up a few weeks ago: "A coin is rare and expensive if there are less known examples of it than collectors who want to get it." And the 1909-S VDB cent certainly applies unlike many other key issues, and especially most semi-keys (and when it comes to stuff like the 1955-S cent, there seems to be no premium whatsoever despite it having the lowest mintage for any business strike cent since 1940). |
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Bedrock of the Community
United States
19930 Posts |
jbuck pretty much covered it.
The SVDB is in very high demand and it's the lowest mintage Lincoln. Even non-Lincoln collectors are known for collecting them.
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Moderator
United States
23522 Posts |
Quote:
"A coin is rare and expensive if there are less known examples of it than collectors who want to get it." That is the essential truth of numismatics. |
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Valued Member
Australia
243 Posts |
Coin collecting is a demand oriented market place. I have a 1929 Two Lira from the Vatican in aUNC - it is the key date of the series with a mintage of 10,000. Yet it would struggle to fetch $85 retail. This is because the Vatican 2 lira series isn't popular at all, whereas Lincoln Cents are probably the most collected set of coins in the world - and the 1909 s VDB is the rarest.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
1510 Posts |
Im in that club also Quote:
feel the 1909 S VDB is way over priced too, hence why I don't have one. Retired USAF 1983-2003
Edited by Coinstar
05/25/2012 09:53 am
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Pillar of the Community
United States
3294 Posts |
Yep, I got a 1883 3 cent nickel in VF35 for under $400 (mintage 4,000). Those are not terribly pricey but so hard to find. Not too many collect the series though, so the price is not as high as with the 1909S
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Pillar of the Community
Russian Federation
5172 Posts |
Quote:
Coin collecting is a demand oriented market place. I have a 1929 Two Lira from the Vatican in aUNC - it is the key date of the series with a mintage of 10,000. Yet it would struggle to fetch $85 retail. This is because the Vatican 2 lira series isn't popular at all, whereas Lincoln Cents are probably the most collected set of coins in the world - and the 1909 s VDB is the rarest. I actually probably have at least a dozen coins in my collection with mintages less than 484,000 (including one that has a mintage of 30,000 - but it is an obscure commemorative from a relatively tiny country). Mind you, the most I've paid for a single coin was about $50, so I probably don't have any $85 coins (and my only Vatican coin is a Second Council commemorative 1962 50 lira (mintage 200,000) barely worth the $3 I paid for it). I'm still surprized that there's no love for the 1955-S cent though... I wonder if it'll ever get up to its proper status as a semi-key? |
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Moderator
United States
187446 Posts |
Quote:
I'm still surprized that there's no love for the 1955-S cent though... I wonder if it'll ever get up to its proper status as a semi-key? With a mintage of 44,610,000; probably not ever. Regardless, I love it... as I do all of my Lincoln cents. |
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Bedrock of the Community
United States
20753 Posts |
If you look up almost any coin for mintages versus prices you would find many examples of just the same thing. For example with Mercury dimes the 31D is the 4th lowest mintage in the series and not much in value. 1912S Liberty Head Nickel is 238,000 and barely worth $400 in MS-63. Many examples of coins valuable mostly due to popularity. Some company a while ago made coaster sized coin replicas. And with them too, there was that 09S VDB along with the 16D Mercury dime and mostly any others that were popular. |
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Replies: 14 / Views: 1,863 |
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Posted 05/24/2012 12:26 pm
