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It is an exciting day for coin collectors when a new coin is released into
circulation. August 2, 1909, was just such a day. It was the day the first
Lincoln cents were released into circulation. Some 27,995,000 coins were
struck. The designer was Victor D. Brenner, the New York sculptor. President
Roosevelt gave his consent to the design, and in honor of the designer, the
initials VDB were placed at the bottom of the reverse. As the coins circulated
differing opinions quickly formed. Soon a controversy arose over the initials.
Popular opinion was that since Brenner had been paid for his design, and
further recognition was not needed. Others said that the letters were too
prominent and that few knew what the notation meant. People also found fault
with the wheat stalks on the reverse side of the cent, contending that they did
not represent this species of grain in true life. The controversy began as
complaints were registered and demands were made that the letters be dropped.
As the controversial coin gained attention many articles were published. One
included comments that southerners did not like Lincoln to begin with and that
the use of his portrait on the cent was unfortunate. In contrast it was written
that many black citizens collected the coins because they revered Lincoln.
Consequently, it was the most publicized coin since the 1883 Liberty Head
nickel without Cents.
The American Numismatic Association held its annual convention in
Montreal from August 9 through 14, 1909, and it was decided that the new
Lincoln cents bearing the initials of Victor D. Brenner would be changed to
eliminate the engraver’s signature. The San Francisco Mint version of the
1909-S V.D.B. quickly became recognized as scarce, and later as rare. The
484,000-S V.D.B. coins that were struck have became the possession of
generations of collectors who know the intrinsic value of the coins. In the
end, elimination of the engraver’s initials, along with the controversy
surrounding it has made the 1909 V.D.B. coins even more valuable, making it one
of America’s most collected coins.
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