1 Cent (sold for $2450.0)

1 Cent USA (1776 - ) Bronze Abraham Lincoln (1809-1865)

Full resolution: (1205 X 600 pixels, file size: ~155K)

1909-S. VDB. PCGS graded MS-65 Red & Brown. Boldly struck with lots of mint red visible. A popular key date. We owe the Lincoln design to a coincidence, explains the Breen encyclopedia. "The Lithuanian immigrant sculptor Victor David Brenner developed an obsession with the martyred President, and during the years just before Lincoln's birth centennial he modeled portrait medals and plaques." These came to the attention of President Theodore Roosevelt, and probably played a part in Brenner's winning a commission to portray him on the Panama Canal service medal. During the sittings, Brenner became a close friend of Roosevelt who invited him to submit Cent models. Brenner's first reverse for the Cent was rejected by the Mint and so he brought the Mint Bureau a new reverse on February 17, 1909; this featured two stylized ears of durum wheat (the kind used today in making spaghetti). Brenner had signed his full name on the obverse model, but on Mint Director Leach's orders he removed his signature, substituting V.D.B. at bottom reverse. Owing largely to pressure from the White House, this version was approved, and the new cents appeared on Aug. 2, 1909 (PCGS # 2427) . Estimated Value $2,400 - 2,500. Categories:

type to read more

Price