How many times have you seen a new coin collector post this thread???????? Hahaha. Especially...."Is my 1909 V.D.B. a Matte Proof worth tens of thousands of dollars?!?!?? I am even guilty of doing this myself when I didn't know ANYTHING about these coins years ago! But this is the real deal in my opinion, the UNICORN for a coin collector...and certainly for a Lincoln Cent collector.......and quite possibly the CHERRYPICK of the year? You decide....
Get a photo of the VDB, the whole reverse and a better photo of the obverse.. The diagnostics have to be there and they are tough to see when half the coin is out of focus because of the tilt.
My photos are not great. I even put it next to the one I "swore" was what this coin actually is the last time. Side by side makes me feel incredibly stupid about that
Looking at this is specimen in hand, I'm about 99.9% sure that it is what I say it is. More pictures, just taken. My call on grade is PR50 straight up no DETAILS. What do you guys think?
I mean... those rims look pretty square to me. Instead of this thread devolving into a shouting match with 50 pages spread over the next five years -- just SEND IT IN!
If you go to PCGS.com photograde and look at examples of 1909 circulated cent which has the same "squared" edge https://www.pcgs.com/photograde#/Lincoln/Grades FYI, I am not a 1909 cent expert. but do more comparisons.
Can you show a better photo of the VDB. I'd like to see where the dots are located. Your other image is so pixilated that nothing is clear.
You'll never let me live down my novice days, and I absolutely love it. Gives me the motivation to search harder for monsters like this. It is a proof.
I can't put my finger on it bugvgje more I look at it the less I feel it's a proof. I think it was one of the first LMC struck in the transition year and that's why it looks like it does. It's sharp and detailed but I just don't see a proof.
The MP were minted at a slower rate, thus the devices should be "full". Plus the parallel die lines top and along Lincolns nose. And on the reverse, an upside-down raised U-shaped mark to the right of the "M" in UNUM. And the dies were sandblasted, not the planchets. To me, the relief is not good enough and the surfaces are too smooth but I certainly don't know for sure.
It's the right style V.D.B., the dot is in the right place, the die scratch matches up to L.D.S. exactly, the "B" is cut out as it should be on the bottom outer loop, the hoop inside the "D" is there.....I'm telling you this is one of the long lost 1909 V.D.B. M.P.L.'s thrown into circulation. I do believe this is the next chapter of this infamously discussed topic in the quest for accurate mintage numbers.
These Mattes are crazy! So hard to photograph and when you catch the light at the right angle and distance they just pop! Even on my impaired example it's mindblowing! Check out these pics that showcase it's a M.P.L. pretty good Changing my grade to PR55, no details!
I do not think so myself, but the photos would not be convincing. If you intend to keep in this line of collecting, sell the coin and buy a decent camera setup. The edge doesn't look right to me. Best of luck , Jim
Are you kidding? How much more perfect could they look for a high grade impaired example of the rarest proof penny in all the land? Trust me, it's a proof. Edited.