1909 values by mint mark
A coin with no mint mark was struck in Philadelphia.
| Coin | Mint | Mintage | Value, worn | Rarity |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1909 | Philadelphia, no letter | 72,702,618 | $1.33 to $5.50 | Common |
| 1909 VDB | Philadelphia, no letter | 27,995,000 | $4.01 to $10 | Common |
| 1909-S | San Francisco | 1,825,000 | $64 to $117 | Rare |
| 1909-S VDB | San Francisco | 484,000 | $563 to $977 | Key |
Not sure which one you have? Scan it, and Coin Finder reads the mint mark for you.
Scan your coinThe 1909-S without the initials is a harder date too, so a coin with an S is worth a close look either way.
How to tell
- Find the date. This page covers 1909 only. The Lincoln portrait is on the front and two wheat ears are on the back.
- Check for an S mint mark. A mint mark is a small letter that shows where a coin was made, and the S means San Francisco. If you see no mint mark, you have one of the common 1909 cents.
- Look at the back for the initials V.D.B. They stand for Victor D. Brenner, who designed the coin. Some 1909 cents carry them and some do not.
- Put the two together. An S with the initials is the 1909-S VDB. An S without them is the 1909-S. The initials without an S make the 1909 VDB. Neither one makes the plain 1909.
Which 1909 to keep
The 1909-S VDB
This is the one to hope for. Only 484,000 were made, which makes it the hardest date of the series to find. Even a heavily worn one is worth far more than a common year.
The 1909-S
The S without the initials is the next best. It is still a harder date, and a worn one is worth $64 to $117.
The 1909 VDB and the plain 1909
The initials without an S are far more common. A 1909 VDB is worth more than face, but it turns up far more often than an S coin. The plain 1909, with neither mark, is the common one.
Condition
Wear lowers value, and your coin's own condition decides where it falls in its range. Do not clean it. Cleaning a coin lowers its value, even when it makes the coin look better. Hold it by the edges and keep it dry.
Other wheat pennies to look for
The 1909 is not the only wheat penny worth checking. See the guides for the 1914, 1922, 1931, 1943 and 1955 cents. For the whole series, see Lincoln wheat penny values or all Lincoln cents.
Metal value
- $0.04 for bronze (95% copper, 2.5% tin, 2.5% zinc, 3.11 g). The 2.5% tin is left out: it adds a small fraction of a cent.
Questions
Is every 1909 penny valuable?
No. A plain 1909 is common, and even the 1909 VDB is far more common than the S dates. The S mint mark is what to look for first.
What does VDB mean on a penny?
It stands for Victor D. Brenner, the designer of the coin. His initials are on the back of some 1909 cents. The initials alone do not make a coin rare, but with an S mint mark they make the most valuable date of the series.
Should I clean my 1909 penny before selling it?
No. Cleaning lowers a coin's value. Leave it as you found it and let a dealer look at it.
Is a 1909 penny worth more for its copper?
Not by much. The metal in one coin is worth $0.04 at the day's prices. Any extra value comes from the date, the mint mark and the condition.
More Lincoln cents to check
Check the rest of your change
Over 1,100 US and UK coins by year and mint mark, each value with its source and the date it was checked.
