Although very precise in their work, the exact position of the mint Mark tended to vary. Up until 1990, mint employees used a small letter punch to add the mint mark to the working die by hand. Estimated Average Buy Price Uncirculated: $1,600.Estimated Average Buy Price Circulated: $800.Estimated Average Sell Value Uncirculated: $1,200.Estimated Average Sell Value Circulated: $500.Given the high value of this coin, only certified coins from third-party grading services should be purchased. Unscrupulous individuals will try to add the mint mark 'S' to the obverse of a Philadelphia minted 1909 VDB Lincoln penny. This coin is easily identified by the 'S' under the date on the obverse and Brenner's initials 'V.D.B.' on the reverse.īeware of counterfeit and altered coins. Given the limited capacity of the San Francisco Mint in 1909, only 484,000 coins were produced. Instead, Brenner added his initials 'V.D.B.' to the reverse of the coin at the bottom between the stalks of the wheat ears. This was removed at the request of Mint Director Frank A. Originally, the obverse of the coin contained Brenner's signature. Brenner's redesign was met with some resistance, specifically from Chief Engraver Charles Barber. Victor David Brenner designed the new penny at the request of President Theodore Roosevelt. In 1909 the United States Mint stopped producing Indian Head pennies and started producing Lincoln cents.

Pennies worth money