1909 VDB (Lwc) Proof To Business Strike Transition Evidence

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As some of you may know, I have a 1909 VDB Cent that looks to be a proof, but it isn't considered one since it doesn't have the known die markers. I decided to prove that this coin was a proof. In the beginning I thought that because of how many proof like Lincolns are out there, that there had to have been a retired proof die pair. I set off to find what defines the transition of my proof coin to a business strike coin, so that I could show that mine is a proof and not just a really good proof like VDB. It is extremely difficult to show my evidence with these pictures from the internet, and I unfortunately can't afford a transition to business strike piece because I can't afford one. When this proof die pair went into business strike production, they re-hubbed the die into DDO-001. If you were to look at a 1909 VDB DDO-001 in early stages of its die life, you will see the subtle die markers and you will notice that the DDO-001 is exceptionally proof like in it's early die stages, before either being re-hubbed to take the doubling out. You can tell that the DDO-001 continued to make coins after being a doubled die because of how many coins share the reverse and obverse in different die stages. It isn't a lot, but out of the VDB population, these business strikes that used to be DDO-001 definitely make up a noticeable population.

In my coin, what I consider to be a proof, you will only see lathe lines, die scratches that are on the hub, and sand blasting. There is no evidence of this die being polished by anything other than sand. In DDO-001 you see the same sand blasting markers in the O of One (my only example of the sand blasting markers at the moment, I need a coin in hand), and now the S is thicker in PLURIBUS, and there are more lathe lines around the edge of the wheat stalks. You can also see some doubling in the lettering on the reverse and you may notice the top left corner of O becoming not as strong as the rest of the O. The die progresses from there. Also look how the date progresses



I know the pictures are not the best but trust me I'm working on finding better pictures. The evidence is all there I just need to keep working on compiling my evidence in an organized way and getting some good pictures of the die markers. I'm so excited though because the die markers are there and they aren't hub markers. All the evidence is here it just needs to be gathered. I'll most likely gather it and find a way to talk to a professional. This would be a lot easier with a DDO in hand so I'm sorry about not having great pics.

Here is my coin




Here is an early stage DDO-001 hubbed on the proof die




Here is a business strike after being re hubbed





Over all since I don't have any close ups of the die markers that made the transition from proof to the DDO, Look at the S in Pluribus and look at the date and also O in ONE. Try and see how they transition, if it is unnoticeable in the pictures I will try to take die marker pics in soon by seeing someone with a DDO

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