The 1909 VDB matte proof has always been a dream coin to me. Should have bought one 40 years ago. The price just goes up and up.
Yeah a o9 vdb matte proof is a big money coin. It does have many proof like characteristics but I’m no expert on these and don’t know the die diagnostics for a mpl Lincoln could it be a business strike with used proof dies or just a crushed strike from fresh dies this is not a series I know that well. Maybe @justafarmer might be able to help. Or @BadThad
Im pretty sure it is not a matte proof. 1909 business strikes often had square rims similar to the op coin. Even matte like surfaces can be encountered on business strike Lincolns at the time. To me, the strike isnt there and even on a matte proof, the rims would be even wider than the op's.
The 1909 VDB proof is SUPER expensive. I had no reservations that this is one that fell through the cracks.
This looks like a business strike to me. It may have also spent time on a necklace. I believe it is genuine and retains some color. Well struck as noted by a fellow enthusiast. I’ve noticed that the 1909 tend to be well struck and the original working dies well maintained. Nice looking coin. Guessing $20-25.
I don't think it has even been determined to be genuine or not. If it is truly thicker than normal, that is why I asked for the weight.
Something about the obverse in the OP looked off to me, so I was waiting for experts to confirm or dismiss it's authenticity.
It isn’t a Matte Proof. The dot between the D and B is closer to the D on the coin in question from this thread. On Proof VDB’s the dot is centered. Proof VDB with centered dot. A business strike VDB with dot left of center. OP's VDB
It weighs slightly more at 3.21 grams. Thank you all very much for your thoughtful feedback and ideas. I really appreciate the input. I’ll keep hunting (Cited from: https://www.cointalk.com/threads/does-this-coin-possess-squared-off-rims.348922/page-2)
I found this listing on eBay of a sold Matte 1909 VDB Cent which had some diagnostics in the listing text which I found informative. "1909 VDB Matte Proof Lincoln Cent PCGS certified PR65+RD and CAC verified. An incredible example of this exceedingly tough issue. One of only 420 coins minted, this example has bright, original red on both sides and no carbon spots. Some light planchet streaking is visible in the right obverse field. All diagnostics are plainly visible (die polish diagonally below LIBERTY, die polish in front of Lincoln's face, and crescent shaped die chip to the right of UNUM on reverse)."
The heavier weight could be suspicious. I don't like the look of the obverse. Has this been determined to be genuine?
Those are well known diagnostics as is the centered dot between D and B. A proof VDB will have to have all 4. The non centered dot eliminates this coin from any possibility of it being a proof. Also the number of 420 minted has been updated over the last few years to a now accepted mintage of 1194.