So i got this penny back in change the other day, and after sitting down to look at it, i noticed it was a 1909, and what looks like an "S" below the 0, and what looks like 'V B' on the reverse.The edge of the coin below the wheat seems to have some damage, and the "D" appears to be gone. Its too bad its corroded to all hell, but if its a 1909s vdb, it fills a hole in my book! So what do you think? Am i seeing phantom "S's" and VDB's? Or are the pictures not good enough to see what im seeing? Thanks for your responses.
It's def. a 1909-VDB ... congratulations! I adjusted the contrast of photos to see shadows better etc. the "s" in "1909-S" is no very apparent along with the "b" in "V.D.B." I can make out the "V" in the VDB but the D is completely worn away (at least in this photo)
wow, nice find! i guess it aint impossible like i thought to find an S-vdb in circulation. its a shame what happened to that coin. but i bet a lot of people would be interesting in purchasing it to fill a hole because it would actually be affordable!
thanks. When i got it back in change, i noticed the wheat stalks, but is was so damaged i didnt pay it any mind, and it went straight into my coin bowl. I was shocked when i went through the change, and found it was a 1909...and the rest is history. Sadly, even with the condition of the coin...this is my greatest find so far lol. Anyway, would acetone do any good to remove some of the corrosion from the coin? to kinda pretty it up? Ill put up a full shot of the obverse and reverse when i get home so you can see how beat up it is lol.
EH.... I wouldn't try something like that on a coin that weak.... You can put the coin in bowl of olive oil... olive oil is a weak acid so it will take off the corrosion over a period of days (9 days or so) but it will be well worth the time because you willn't have damaged the "VDB"
The coin is severely corroded with heavy verdigris. When verdigris advances to this stage, you do not want to remove it. Doing so would REMOVE design elements and leave behind deep pits making the coin even more unattactive.
The words and stalks are pretty in tact all details on lincoln have been rubbed off.. it looks like a silhouette It's a bummer that the vdb got beat up instead of the "liberty"... I think you can get it a solid color with olive oil and at the same time not damage the coin much anymore. Good luck! tell me how much it sells for if you do sell it!
You should try some VERDI-CARE™ on it. It will not remove the heavy verdigris, but you don't want that gone anyway. It will remove the light to moderate verdigris and it will shrink the larger patches down some. It will also bring out the details more. I do not recommend using olive oil, it will negatively alter the color....sorry Orange. Olive oil is inconsistent, old school, not very effective and slow.
Congratulations on a sweet find. Who cares if it is beat up as all get out, it is a 1909-S VDB and you got it for face value. I would strongly suggest that you look at some of BadThad's other posts that provide before and after shots of some coins he has used his Verdi-Care product on. The results , IMHO , are great to amazing !
I agree, that is a 1909-s vdb. You should send it in to ANACS and get it authenticated. Then sell it on Ebay and use the proceeds to purchase a nicer example. Congratulations, that is a remarkable find.
thanks Im thinking of sending it in to get it authenicated. Im sure the coin is probally considerd to be ungradable...but if its authenicated, would they encapsulate it? But you're right, even though its beat up, theres not many people today that can say they found a 1909s vdb in circulation. This is something i will hold on to just for bragging rights...well that and to pass on to my daughter I did look at some of his before and after shots on another forum, and they do look pretty good. Think i am gonna invest in some it, THEN possibly send it in.
Wow, I definitely was skeptical about that S at first, but there is definitely something there! Incredible.
