In 1909, the San Francisco Mint issued a new cent coin paying homage to Abraham Lincoln designed by Victor David Brenner. While the initiative seemed popular at first, once the design had been produced, citizens disliked the tribute, since they considered that the designer’s initials were featured just as prominently in the design, if not more, than the image of the 16th president of the United States, defeating the purpose of the recognition. This controversy led to the series being promptly discontinued and according to records, only 484 thousand units were put into circulation.

The small number of pieces released, the controversial detail about the signature of the designer and especially its reddish brownish hue, have turned this coin into a treasure for collectors, for which more than $3000 can be paid at auction, multiplying its original value by 300,000. And this is not a theoretical appraisal, a coin from this series reached $3,960 for combining all the details listed and being in optimal conditions of conservation. Although due to the scarcity of coins that were minted, if one is found and even if its condition is not optimal, it can still fetch a tidy sum if sold to the right collector or auction house.

The one-cent Lincoln coin that can be worth up to 3 thousand dollars

For those who might be interested in tracking down one of these coins, a series of details must be taken into account to verify that it is the right one. Although only experts can really attest to the true provenance of the coin, a bit of research can go a long way to determine if you are on the right track.

First and foremost, the coin was minted in San Francisco in 1909, so it should have the “S” mintmark indicating that it was indeed produced at that Mint. Since it was designed by Victor David Brenner, the presence of the initials V.D.B. on its reverse near the edge will need to be present for the piece to be real. Later editions of the coin do not sport this particular detail, making the pieces from this mint easier to identify by comparison. Another oddity of the coin is that it has a very noticeable red shine, so much so that Heritage Auctions states 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.”

In addition, the PCGS also points out that this piece, which is one of the lowest minted Lincoln cents, weighs 3.11 grams and is made of 95% copper and 5% tin and zinc mixture. They also give out a detailed description of the coin, which can help potential owners ascertain its value. “The S mintmark is clearly defined on all genuine coins, and the serifs are parallel. The V.D.B. Genuine coins have angled bases of the B and D and are clear and sharp”.

Even though the original production of the coin was not exactly a resounding success, the tribute idea was still popular amongst citizens, so the coin was produced once again, but all the new pieces that were minted from 1909 to 1918 did not carry the designer’s mark, delighting those who finally felt the piece was a true tribute to Lincoln.

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