The Ellusive S-VDB

quote:

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Originally posted by thekidcollector

What makes it so special?
Why is it the only coin with VDB on it?
What is VDB?
How many people on this forum have it?

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What makes it so special? Belief that it is.
Why is it the only coin with VDB on it? The dates 1909 carry the initials on the reverse and the dates 1918- to date (2006) carry them on the obverse under the shoulder.
What is VDB? Victor David Brenner. The man who designed the coin
How many people on this forum have it? Not sure. I have owned several of both 1909 versions. I am going to assume that you mean the "elusive" 1909-S VDB. They are not rare by any stretch of the imagination though. 5 to 15 examples can be picked up at any MAJOR coin show.

I have a nice red MS 1909 VDB, those can be had for $10-50 depending on MS grade and color. It will probably be a while before I can add a S-VDB to my collection

For a bit of history, the VDB was removed because of a public outcry over the prominence of the designers initials on a coin commemorating the 100th birthday of the 16th President.

Nohope mentioned hype. I think the 1909-S VDB is one of the few "rare" coins of which laymen non-collectors are aware ("common knowledge"), mostly since if any "old" coin makes the news, it'll be the 09-S VDB. Maybe they teach about it in school, but it seems to be the classic example when discussions among non-collectors gravitate toward coins.

As ND stated, they aren't all that uncommon, but they continue to command an increasing premium. There's quite a few on ebay - at the moment, 49 listed (including mis-keyword listings in a search):

1909-SVDB Cent

Most of those listed, even low end and problem coins have already gone into the hundreds. I suspect since the 09-S VDB is so well-known and popular, their value will continue to rise.