Rare Lincoln Penny Soars in Value Could Fetch Up to $3,000

In 1909, the San Francisco Mint released a new cent coin honoring Abraham Lincoln, designed by Victor David Brenner. While the initiative appeared popular at first, once the design was created, citizens disliked the tribute because they believed the designer’s initials were featured just as prominently, if not more, than the image of the 16th president of the United States, defeating the purpose of the recognition. Because of this dispute, the series was quickly canceled, with only 484 thousand copies in circulation, according to data.

The limited number of pieces produced, the contentious detail concerning the designer’s signature, and, most notably, its reddish-brownish tone have transformed this coin into a collector’s item, fetching more than $3000 at auction and doubling its initial worth by 300,000. This is not a speculative evaluation; a coin from this series sold for $3,960 after combining all of the listed details and being in optimal conservation circumstances. Despite the paucity of coins made, if one is discovered and even if its condition is not ideal, it can still fetch a good price if sold to the correct collector or auction house.

The one-cent Lincoln coin can be valued up to 3,000 dollars.

For individuals interested in hunting down one of these coins, several details must be considered to ensure that it is the correct one. Although only experts can truly attest to the coin’s true provenance, little study can help you figure out if you’re on the right track.

First and foremost, the currency was coined in San Francisco in 1909, so it should bear the “S” mintmark, indicating that it was created at that mint. Because it was designed by Victor David Brenner, the initials V.D.B. on the reverse near the edge will be required for the piece to be authentic. Later issues of the coin lack this particular detail, making coins from this mint easy to identify by comparison. Another anomaly about the coin is that it has a very apparent red shine, to the point where Heritage Auctions claims that the Professional Coin Grading Service (PCGS) “designates this piece as red and brown, although it is approximately 90% red, with only a few touches of brown on each side.”

Furthermore, the PCGS notes that this piece, one of the lowest issued Lincoln cents, weighs 3.11 grams and is composed of 95% copper and 5% tin and zinc alloy. They also include a full description of the coin, which might help potential owners determine its value. “The S mintmark is well-defined on all genuine coins, and the serifs run parallel. The V.D.B. Genuine coins feature angled B and D bases that are clean and crisp.”

Even though the coin’s initial production was not a resounding success, the tribute idea remained popular among citizens, so the coin was reissued, but all of the new pieces minted from 1909 to 1918 did not bear the designer’s mark, delighting those who finally felt the piece was a true tribute to Lincoln.

Frank A. Leach, the Mint’s director, who reviewed the design in February 1909 and authorized the placement of Brenner’s initials, V.D.B., on the lower part of the reverse of the coin, was forced to resign at the end of June that year due to the controversy surrounding the design, cutting his tenure short and leaving a disappointing legacy.