![]() ![]() The coin was produced essentially unchanged for its first 50 years. In 1918, the year after Barber died, Brenner's initials were returned to the coin - in letters so small you need a magnifying glass to see them - on the beveled edge at the base of Lincoln's portrait. Some numismatists believe, too, that anti-Semitism might have played a part in the decision to remove Brenner's initials. coins and fought using them at every turn. Barber, chafed at seeing outsiders work on U.S. Mint employees, particularly Chief Engraver Charles E. Brenner was a private medalist and a Jewish immigrant. Over the years, darker motives have been ascribed to the removal of the initials. MacVeagh had signed off on the design months before the coin's release, but he said he had not noticed the offending V.D.B. Rarer San Francisco coins, which have a small S mint mark below the date, sell for $2,400 and up in uncirculated condition, according to Coin Values magazine. ![]() Today, uncirculated century-old 1909-VDB Philadelphia cents are valued in coin catalogues at $25. Those first cents, which were struck at the Philadelphia and San Francisco mints, did eventually rise in value. 5 and the initials removed from the dies. Responding to the criticism, Treasury Secretary Franklin MacVeagh ordered production stopped on Aug. Rumors spread that the coin would be recalled, making it even more valuable. Brenner placed his initials at the bottom of the back where two wheat ears met.Įven though coin designers had signed their works with their initials, or even full names, for thousands of years, there were scattered complaints about the location and size of Brenner's initials. Many buyers hoped to strike it rich because of three tiny letters on the coin's back - V.D.B. A cent is not worth much today, but in 1909 it had the buying power of about 22 cents in today's money. ![]()
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