I am trying to Google this and I am not coming up with much. I had thought it was only on the 1909 series. Can someone give me a quick lesson? Even a link to where the information is as all I am getting is 1909 stuff. GoogleFoo is usually pretty good.
After they took the VDB off of the 1909's, none of the cents had any initials. They later (if I recall correctly, 1918) were restored, but on the shoulder. Hope this helps.
Yes, so if one does not have it, then that is where the 'variety' comes from. Cool. How rare are they to not have it in the 30's-40's? Finding more information.... https://www.vdbcoins.com/index.php/collectors-guides/3-collectors-guide-to-lincoln-cents
I believe the no VDB cent is only a variety in 1909. All other Lincoln's from 1918 until present have VDB on the shoulder without exception.
This one is listed as no VDB, with a population of 50 in the ANACS report. I am not sure of rarity but from what you just said I think I might have found a keeper.
ANACS might slab them, but it's not uncommon at all. The VDB initials on the base of the shoulder are so shallow that it's not uncommon for it to disappear in later die stages.
Ah that might explain it then. Hmm. In the population report there are a few dates listed with this said variety. Still, it is kind of cool to have one in MS65 RED. Thanks for the explanation.
Here's my 09 VDB, cherry-picked from a dealer's box. I say cherry-picked not because they're uncommon, but rather because I got a coin with excellent luster for a fraction you would normally pay for this variety. I'm looking for a comparable 09 no-VDB at the moment, for my first-year-of-issue Lincoln type set. Also not hard to find, but I may have to resign myself to paying quite a bit more than I paid for the above coin. MS early Lincolns are hard to come by for ten bucks apiece.
That is a very nice one indeed. When I was a kid my dad, brother, and I would go through a $50 bag of pennies on the weekend. We tried filling the book but got about 90% there. The 1909 VDB was one of them that we did find but not in that good of condition. My brother has it now. Yeah $10, and without the VDB at least makes it two things, (1) neat to have for conversation, (2) a learning piece.
