'09S VDB advice please

You talk funny.

I usually pronounce descent and dissent about the same way -- di-SENT, emphasis on the second syllable, with the "schwa" sound in the first syllable. But dissent can take on more of a short-i sound in the first syllable, and descent might take on a long e if I'm trying to speak very distinctly (although online dictionaries don't seem to list the long-e pronunciation).

Decent is DEE-sent, emphasis on the first syllable, with a strong long e. If you tried to pronounce it the same as the other two, I'd be very confused.

Now, off to see what other threads I can hijack with linguistic nit-picking... or perhaps not.

 

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On the home page of this website Coin Talk, there is an article titled The 1909 S VDB

It's a very good read.

 

I talk "southern", "deep south", "southeastern US" ... so I don't understand West coast or northeastern "speech" very well either. So let's agree to drop our differences and move on.

 

Just want to second the advice on taking your time when you purchase the coin. These coins are very very common, it's demand that drives up the price. Feel free to pass on a coin if it's not exactly what you want, there are plenty more for sale.

We are all on budgets and have to trade off condition for price. Lots of people are advising you to save a bit more and buy an mint state example. I'll give you the counter argument. I have a hard time doubling the amount of money I spend to have a common coin in higher grade. A nice vf coin, with full details and honest wear will be a very nice looking coin which you will have no problem selling when the time comes. I would set a grade range for yourself and buy the nicest coin in that grade, not all vfs are the same.

Second, to the extent most people will understand and appreciate your coin it will be due to it's s v.d.b status, not because it's a mint state versus vf example. You end up paying twice the money for the mint state, but for me 90% of the value in the coin is just having an example. Like I said, whichever grade you choose, don't skimp on quality, but for my money I would prefer a nice, clean, original vf to a Mint state 09 s v.d.b.

I suppose 09 s v.d.b is similar in that regard to the coin in my avatar. It's extremely common as coins go, but it's iconic with high demand. I could have spent a lot more money buying a coin in higher grade, but I opted to spend less money on a lower grade coin with wonderful eye appeal. I wanted an example, and I wanted a nice example much more than I wanted a high grade example, and the money I saved on not buying a higher grade example will go into other coins I want.

 

@beef1020 makes a valid argument. In the end, it's all up to you. I'm not sure if there are other coins you have on your radar. If not, and this is your only big purchase your planning on making, then going big might be the right move. If you do have others on your wish list, then save some money and go for the VF-XF grades and save some money for those other coins.

 

@MKent I'm in the same boat as you. If I was buying one, I'd be on the lookout for a nice brown with some beautiful toning. Red's are cool, but you just don't get that "I was minted over a hundred years ago" feeling.

 

I do have some other purchases on my coin bucket list. After the '09s VDB, I will be looking for a 1937D 3 Legged buffalo nickel. My Grand father had one and showed it to me when I was about 7 years old. He told me what it was and that someday it would be mine. Well he passed away when I was 12 and the nickel was sent to his sisters house because she was the VP at a bank and collected coins. She was killed in a bank robbery in December that same year and a man came to her house a day or two later and told my Uncle she had his coin collection to appraise and he wanted to pick it up. Long story short he gave this man everything as they were just coins and he was pretty distraught. He didn't even know the man he said later but figured the guy was telling the truth since he knew about the coins. There are others but the '09 and the 3 Legged Buff are defiantly the first two.

 

You and I have a lot in common, as I'm sure most others here do as well. There are several coins I was made aware of as a child, and now would like to acquire myself. The '37-D 3 Legged Buffalo Nickel is one. A couple of others are the '16-D Mercury Dime and '14-D Lincoln Cent. Those are some of a few on my bucket list. I wish you luck on your quest and would love it if you would post some pics of your '09-S V.D.B. when you acquire it.