Lot 002Coin values
1909-S V.D.B. Lincoln Wheat Cent
SAN FRANCISCO (S) · 95% COPPER, 5% TIN AND ZINC · 484,000 STRUCK
Worth about $600–$1,300 circulated and $7,500–$10,500 in MS-65.
The 1909-S V.D.B. Lincoln Wheat Cent is one of the major rarities of the series from the San Francisco Mint, with 484,000 pieces struck. In circulated grades (G-4 to EF-40) our estimate is $600–$1,300, and a well-preserved MS-65 example is estimated at $7,500–$10,500. Because this is a key date, condition and authenticity matter far more than metal content: have any high-value coin graded by a recognised service.
The best-known key date of the wheat cent: only 484,000 struck and heavily hoarded and counterfeited.
Photograph: 1909-S VDB Lincoln cent (image by Lost Dutchman Rare Coins). Public domain, credit Coin: Victor David Brenner, Image by Lost Dutchman Rare Coins, via Wikimedia Commons. Wear, luster and color on your coin will differ.
- Mint
- San Francisco (S)
- Composition
- 95% copper, 5% tin and zinc
- Mintage
- 484,000
- Weight and size
- 3.11 g · 19.05 mm
- Designer
- Victor David Brenner
Scarcer than 100% of the 140 issues in the Lincoln Wheat series with a recorded mintage. 484,000 struck. Mintage is the number struck, not the number that survive.
V.D.B. on the reverse
The initials V.D.B. appear at the bottom of the reverse between the wheat ears.
S mint mark
The S should be crisp and sit below the date. Forgeries are common.
Mint mark position
D and S sit below the date on the obverse. Compare against the date: forged mint marks are common on 1909-S V.D.B., 1914-D and 1931-S.
About the 1909-S V.D.B. Lincoln Wheat
How much is a 1909-S V.D.B. Lincoln Wheat Cent worth?
Lustre's editorial estimate (Oct 2026) is $600–$1,300 for circulated examples (G-4 to EF-40) and $7,500–$10,500 in MS-65. These are estimates, not an appraisal or market data. A coin in the grade you hold may sell for less at a dealer, who needs a margin.
What is a 1909-S V.D.B. Lincoln Wheat Cent made of?
It is 95% copper, 5% tin and zinc and weighs 3.11 g. At today's metal prices the metal is worth a few cents, so any value comes from collector demand.
How many 1909-S V.D.B. Lincoln Wheat Cents were minted?
484,000 were struck at the San Francisco Mint.
Where is the mint mark on a Lincoln Wheat Cent?
On the obverse, below the date. Philadelphia coins have no mint mark.
Is my 1909-S V.D.B. Lincoln Wheat Cent rare?
Yes. It is one of the major rarities of the series. Check the variety notes on this page, look at the date and mint mark under magnification and consider professional grading before selling.
More Lincoln Wheat Cent values
Where these numbers come from
Lincoln cent, Wikipedia: composition, weight, diameter, edge, designer, mint mark position.
Lincoln wheat cent mintage, Landofcoins.com: mintage by year and mint.
Lincoln cent mintage figures, Wikipedia: mintage cross-check.
Mintage US Coins: Lincoln Wheat Cent, Mountain View Coins: mintage cross-check (totals include Proofs).
Lustre editorial grade-value estimates, Lustre: grade value ranges (estimates, not market data).
gold-api.com spot prices (reference level for estimates), gold-api.com: reference spot prices behind the estimates.
How the estimates are made. Facts reviewed Oct 2026.