1909 VDB Lincoln Wheat Cent Doubled Die Obverse FS-1102

Description

Cataloged as FS-1102 in the Fivaz-Stanton Cherrypickers' Guide, this doubled die obverse variety appears on the historically significant 1909 VDB Lincoln Wheat Cent — the first year of Victor David Brenner's iconic Lincoln portrait that has remained on the American cent for over a century. The VDB designation refers to Brenner's initials, which appeared prominently on the reverse of the earliest 1909 cents before public outcry over their perceived size led to their removal mid-production; the initials would not return until 1918 when they were added in tiny form on Lincoln's shoulder truncation. The FS-1102 Cherrypickers' designation follows the Fivaz-Stanton numbering system where the initial digits correspond to die variety classification codes, providing collectors with a standardized reference for locating and attributing this variety. As a first-year issue, the 1909 VDB Lincoln Cent carries enormous numismatic significance — it represents the first time a real historical person (rather than an allegorical figure) appeared on a regular-issue United States coin, a break from tradition that proved controversial at the time but established the precedent followed by all subsequent portrait coinage. The coin was struck at the Philadelphia Mint in bronze composition of 95% copper and 5% tin and zinc, weighing 3.11 grams with a diameter of 19.0 mm and a plain edge. The combination of a doubled die obverse variety on the inaugural 1909 VDB issue creates a collecting intersection where die variety interest meets key date significance, making FS-1102 a premium target for Lincoln Cent specialists who value both the first-year provenance and the hub doubling variety attribution.

Attribution History

• FS-1102