1909 S VDB

My Two Cents:

I trust this seller, and it's a reasonable, problem-free example of this tough date.

I am normally an anti-slab guy, so to hear the following from me might give you pause for thought. You will probably not get a substantial discount (percentage-wise) buying this key date raw instead of slabbed. In other words, patience in finding an auction ending at a favorable time, and with favorable shipping price, and for a coin that fits well in your collection... this is more important than insisting on buying raw to save a few bucks.

Don't forget that one novice bidder who mentally overgrades a raw coin can drive up the price higher than might occur with a slabbed one.

These observations are not even to mention the value in having some third-party guarantee that the coin is genuine. (Admittedly, it's probably not an issue with this trustworthy seller, though.)

My suggestion is to wait for a slabbed "intermediate" grade like G-6 -- but problem-free -- and wait for favorable auction conditions. You can probably get it for under $700, which is not bad at all.

As noted many times in many places your discussing a coin that is rated as one of the most counterfeited coins on Earth. I really would never buy one raw for that reason. And although the seller may be honest, he also may not know enough to know if real or not. I met one dealer that was telling me how he got fooled into buying a 1916D Mercury dime that he swore was real. A TPGS ended up saying fake.
I suspect there are many dealers and collectors with fake 1909S VCB's in their possesion and don't know they are fakes since some are made really well.
Look for one that is graded and in a slab. Yes will be more expensive but should be worth it since a fake one will only be a novelty.

I agree with Carl.