Got small collection from Husbands Grandfather. He was a bank president in the 1940's or so. The collection has been tossed from here to there for many years, Some lost i'm sure. I want to try to learn some about it. I got books on coins but am just learning. Any info would help. Thanks
Looks to me like a 1909 VDB from the Philly mint. Looks to be in good shape. Nice coin. http://www.coinstudy.com/ <-----Great place for you to check on coins and get a general idea of value.
Decent example of the 1909 VDB Lincoln Cent. This was the first Lincoln Cent produced and they only minted them for a couple of weeks in August of 1909 before being ordered to remove the V.D.B. initials on the lower reverse. Since they were only issued for a short time, they are highly collectible since everyone needs one for their Lincoln sets and type set collectors also need this coin since it's a one year only type. However, since millions were minted, the coins are not scarce so even in the condition you have, the coin is probably worth around $15-$20 or so. I'd imagine the coin may have more sentimental value than that to your family... very cool find and story in any event.
I found it in a box of other old coins,but it was in a little bag. All the other coins were loose, so i thought it might of been special. I looked it up and found so much confusing stuff about matte proofs and business strikes , i wanted to have people who know about coins look. I held it up rim to rim with other old penny , and it is very flat rimmed , it is also very sandblasted looking , it has a funny rainbow look to it. I can't figure out how to take a good picture of it, i'll keep trying. The coin doesn't have a mint mark.I looked at it under a 2x lens but i'm not sure what i'm looking for. I find it hard to find a good coin shop around here. I took a few coins to one and he said they weren't worth anything ,i'll give you a$100 for them. So i left right there and went and got a book. One of the coins was a 20 cent piece worth a lot more that. That was a few years ago , i just put the coins away to deal with later. I found the box the other day(We are selling our house, and packing stuff up), and took a look at them. I kind of figure being a bank president he knew something about coin collecting and maybe came across so great coins, He also collected stamps.LOTs of stamps from all over the world. That reminds me i also have coins and paper money from all over the world. I guess i have to start somewhere so a penny was a good place to start. Thank you all for your help.
NEVER handle your coins like that! If you must handle coins with bare hands, only hold them by the edge. Getting skin oils on the faces of your coins will damage them and reduce their value.
Not a good assumption. You might be surprised to learn that for the most part most people who work in banks actually know little or nothing about coins and paper money.
No confusion with this one. It isn't a matte proof. Not only does the bottom of the rims need to be flat, but the side of the rim needs to be just as flat. Your coin's rim has the same rounded edge as other business strikes from 1909.
Thanks Everyone! I'm sure I have other coins to put on later. You are all so helpful. It is Great to find a site with Good people!
Welcome to CT! You have what we call a "nicely toned" cent. The funny color is collectible, be sure to handle coins only by the rim (edge) and don't allow your figures to touch the surfaces or you might leave prints on the coin (decreasing value). Crop your pictures so only the coin shows. That will help us see it better. Also, see if your camera has a macro mode. You'll be able to improve your pictures using that.
You are looking at a Lincoln Wheat Penny. They were first issued in 1909 commemorating the 100th anniversary of Abraham Lincoln's birth. Produced in Denver, San Francisco and Philadelphia, Wheat Pennies may bear either a D, S or no mintmark (for Philadelphia). Where there is a mintmark, it can be found on the front directly below the date. A few of the first issues in 1909 were minted with the initials of the designer, Victor D. Brenner, on the bottom of the reverse right next to the rim. When these "VDB" cents were noticed the dies were changed, but not before 30% of the pennies for the year had been produced. In 1918 the initials VDB were restored to the Wheat Penny on the front of the coin, at the bottom of Lincoln's shoulder.
