The Young Collectors Dream.... 1909-S VDB

In all my years I have had four raw coins slabbed. I don’t have an affinity for slabbed coins. I did them simply so my wife could liquidate them easier once I leave this party. Point being, I’m not asking for any grade or value reward.

Back 25 years ago when TPG slabs were still an oddity, I plugged my 09-S, VDB hole with this cent. It’s not a bad strike and the piece still has eye appeal to me. I bought it for a song. The cent has quite the rim crack at two o’clock obverse and four o’clock reverse. It is a very “imperfect” cent. A perfect choice for me because that imperfection is of no matter to me. Should this cent be in a TPG slab? My wife or kids wouldn’t be able to argue it’s authenticity and these days even an imperfect 09-S, VDB brings a fairly hefty return. Should I get this one done?

 

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I have been waiting for the right one to come around for much more than a half century. I could afford it if I wished, but there are so many of them saved and unaccounted for, mine will show up some day. At one time not too long ago, there were rumors and a few confirmation that bags still existed in the SF area. I would wait for one that wouldn't detail. IMO, Jim

 

Can't argue with desertgem, and I am certainly no a collector of this coin. So my comment is more in the way of a question to others than an answer to your question.

There are so many fake ones around, would it not be of some value to get it slabbed with a detail designation to prove it is genuine? I don't know the answer.

 

Almost all of the top 4 TPG could verify and detail it for his inheritance question. Probably ANACs would be the least expensive, but I would just ask the experts on here to tell me if it was real or not to buy. RLM , before he passed, was an expert at this, and I am sure there are others. I think that every show I went to that had more than 40 tables, had at least one ( usually XF40 or higher) way out of the park for people who really didn't know prices or lower grade/details in a slab( still over-priced usually). I would rather buy another 72/72 , or another 3-L 1937D Buff for the money. Just me

 

Like you stated, it will be easier to liquidate and no worries of being told its fake plus I find TPG slabs easier to store in the long run and it allows your family members to understand why that coin is worth that much etc.

 

i agree, even in a "details" slab it would be verified as genuine and much easier for family members to liquidate..

 

Yeah, even if you dont get that specific one graded, find atleast a AU to get graded

 

I would have it graded for the reasons listed by the OP. Too many fakes around. I'd send it to PCGS or NGC. There are plenty of people on the boards that could submit it for you if required.

 

Possible match for obverse 4. Check the diagnostics.

 

I have never been a variations guy. Heck, these days I need a strong loop just to see the date. Does this argue in favor of it's authenticity?

 

I would have it graded as well. It's still a valuable coin if real. This is a coin that folks worry about buying raw and most will want to be sure.

 

This is exactly what I was thinking. Slabbed coins were still quite the novelty when I picked this one up. Now that the landscape has changed, I am thinking it may be prudent to have this one entombed.

 

Not if it fails any of the other diagnostics for Obverse 4. If the coin's mintmark didn't hit any of the 4 mintmark targets in the overlay - that would create a strong convincing argument in favor of counterfeit.

 

^ Yes, it does. It is the lowest of the four identified mintmark positions (only one where the mintmark is entirely below the bottoms of the 9s. The left side of the S appears to be parallel with the left side of the 0 in the date. On the reverse, the diagonal of the B in the VDB should be slanted downward right to left (some fakes have a straight diagonal in the B). I would want to examine your coin more closely before pronouncing it genuine but in any case I agree it is worth sending in just for authentication purposes.

Kind regards,

George

 

@justafarmer that's a great overlay tool! Is that something publicly available or something you put together?

Kind regards,

George

 

Something I created. I currently have over 280 different such overlay tools for different coins. Some Examples

 

What a practical and useful tool!

 

@justafarmer love those! Very impressive! I am always amazed at the talents of so many people ... like you!

Kind regards,

George

 

@Randy Abercrombie here is a useful PCGS article on the four S VDB obverse dies.

https://www.pcgs.com/News/Counterfeit-Vs-Authentic-1909-s-Vdb-Lincoln-Cents

Kind regards,

George

 

Thank you for that