Price Guide for 1909 Cent Variants
This guide presents price ranges for variants from three sources: eBay sales, third-party auctions, and PCGS guides. Values are shown for various conditions, allowing collectors to compare across different market segments. Price estimates may vary between sources, especially for rarer variants.
1909 VDB Penny, BN (Regular Strike)
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3rd Party PriceCirculated: $10.00 – $2,185.00Uncirculated: $0.65 – $4,830.00
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eBayCirculated: $3.01 – $660.00Uncirculated: $0.99 – $1,399.95
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PCGS Price GuideCirculated: $17.00 – $30.00Uncirculated: $30.00 – $185.00
1909-S VDB Penny, BN (Regular Strike)
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3rd Party PriceCirculated: $299.00 – $2,645.00Uncirculated: $575.00 – $8,400.00
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eBayCirculated: $50.00 – $3,250.00Uncirculated: $600.00 – $9,999.99
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PCGS Price GuideCirculated: $500.00 – $2,125.00Uncirculated: $2,200.00 – $25,000.00
1909 VDB Penny, RD (Regular Strike)
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3rd Party PriceCirculated: $11.00 – $26.00Uncirculated: $16.00 – $56,400.00
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eBayCirculated: $8.00 – $86.99Uncirculated: $13.01 – $4,000.00
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PCGS Price GuideUncirculated: $35.00 – $58,000.00
1909-S Penny Lincoln, BN (Regular Strike)
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3rd Party PriceCirculated: $17.00 – $1,320.00Uncirculated: $110.00 – $1,680.00
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eBayCirculated: $0.99 – $1,650.00Uncirculated: $170.00 – $1,400.00
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PCGS Price GuideCirculated: $60.00 – $335.00Uncirculated: $350.00 – $900.00
1909-S Penny Indian, BN (Regular Strike)
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3rd Party PriceCirculated: $109.00 – $2,400.00Uncirculated: $230.00 – $3,120.00
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eBayCirculated: $120.00 – $1,785.00Uncirculated: $615.77 – $2,787.00
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PCGS Price GuideCirculated: $250.00 – $1,375.00Uncirculated: $1,400.00 – $5,750.00
1909 Penny Indian, RD (Regular Strike)
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3rd Party PriceUncirculated: $37.00 – $21,600.00
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eBayCirculated: $771.20Uncirculated: $41.00 – $8,500.00
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PCGS Price GuideUncirculated: $75.00 – $15,000.00
1909 Penny Lincoln, BN (Regular Strike)
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3rd Party PriceCirculated: $6.00 – $431.00Uncirculated: $13.00 – $168.00
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eBayCirculated: $4.99 – $558.80Uncirculated: $5.50 – $949.95
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PCGS Price GuideCirculated: $3.00 – $25.00Uncirculated: $28.00 – $210.00
1909 VDB Penny, BN (Proof)
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3rd Party PriceCirculated: $1,265.00Uncirculated: $7.00 – $41,125.00
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eBayUncirculated: $4.25 – $57.00
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PCGS Price GuideUncirculated: $7,000.00 – $42,500.00
1909-S VDB Penny, RD (Regular Strike)
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3rd Party PriceCirculated: $690.00 – $2,415.00Uncirculated: $575.00 – $168,000.00
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eBayCirculated: $495.00 – $916.99Uncirculated: $849.00 – $65,000.00
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PCGS Price GuideUncirculated: $2,300.00 – $175,000.00
1909-S Penny Indian, RD (Regular Strike)
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3rd Party PriceUncirculated: $7.25 – $97,750.00
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eBayUncirculated: $1,000.00 – $5,000.00
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PCGS Price GuideUncirculated: $1,500.00 – $58,500.00
1909 Penny Lincoln, RD (Regular Strike)
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3rd Party PriceUncirculated: $17.00 – $8,518.75
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eBayCirculated: $1,088.00Uncirculated: $0.99 – $1,445.00
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PCGS Price GuideUncirculated: $32.00 – $8,000.00
1909-S VDB Penny, RB (Regular Strike)
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3rd Party PriceCirculated: $581.00 – $1,208.00Uncirculated: $4.20 – $19,200.00
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eBayUncirculated: $775.75 – $7,300.00
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PCGS Price GuideUncirculated: $2,300.00 – $50,000.00
1909 VDB Penny, RB (Proof)
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3rd Party PriceUncirculated: $1,955.00 – $258,500.00
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eBayUncirculated: $18,700.00 – $25,500.00
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PCGS Price GuideUncirculated: $8,500.00 – $275,000.00
1909 VDB Penny Doubled Die Obverse, BN (Regular Strike)
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3rd Party PriceCirculated: $30.00 – $322.00Uncirculated: $54.00 – $518.00
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eBayCirculated: $26.00 – $950.00Uncirculated: $160.00 – $1,184.69
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PCGS Price GuideCirculated: $26.00 – $140.00Uncirculated: $145.00 – $750.00
1909 VDB Penny Doubled Die Obverse, RD (Regular Strike)
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3rd Party PriceUncirculated: $228.00 – $31,200.00
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eBayUncirculated: $115.00 – $14,310.00
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PCGS Price GuideUncirculated: $160.00 – $47,500.00
1909 Penny Lincoln, RD (Proof)
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3rd Party PriceUncirculated: $489.00 – $59,800.00
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eBayUncirculated: $1,260.00 – $4,000.00
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PCGS Price GuideUncirculated: $450.00 – $165,000.00
1909 Penny Indian, CAM (Proof)
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3rd Party PriceUncirculated: $1,293.00 – $18,000.00
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PCGS Price GuideUncirculated: $500.00 – $21,000.00
1909 Penny Indian, BN (Regular Strike)
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3rd Party PriceCirculated: $8.00 – $89.00Uncirculated: $14.00 – $322.00
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eBayCirculated: $0.99 – $235.00Uncirculated: $12.50 – $967.07
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PCGS Price GuideCirculated: $1.00 – $57.00Uncirculated: $60.00 – $375.00
1909-S Penny Lincoln, RD (Regular Strike)
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3rd Party PriceCirculated: $57.00 – $2,500.00Uncirculated: $190.00 – $69,000.00
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eBayCirculated: $72.00 – $390.00Uncirculated: $49.95 – $4,900.00
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PCGS Price GuideUncirculated: $375.00 – $40,000.00
1909-S/S Penny S/Horizontal S, RB (Regular Strike)
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3rd Party PriceCirculated: $75.00 – $196.00Uncirculated: $144.00 – $1,668.00
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eBayUncirculated: $299.00 – $954.00
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PCGS Price GuideUncirculated: $350.00 – $1,450.00
1909 Penny Indian DDO FS-101 S-1, RD (Regular Strike)
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3rd Party PriceUncirculated: $870.00
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eBayUncirculated: $700.00 – $999.95
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PCGS Price GuideUncirculated: $350.00 – $8,000.00
1909-S Penny Indian, RB (Regular Strike)
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3rd Party PriceCirculated: $192.00 – $863.00Uncirculated: $431.00 – $7,637.50
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eBayCirculated: $231.38 – $549.99Uncirculated: $986.00 – $4,399.95
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PCGS Price GuideUncirculated: $1,450.00 – $10,000.00
1909 Penny Indian, RB (Proof)
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3rd Party PriceUncirculated: $2.25 – $3,738.00
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eBayUncirculated: $215.50 – $960.05
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PCGS Price GuideUncirculated: $200.00 – $2,500.00
1909 VDB Penny, RB (Regular Strike)
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3rd Party PriceUncirculated: $15.00 – $22,800.00
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eBayCirculated: $27.00 – $295.59Uncirculated: $1.50 – $5,000.00
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PCGS Price GuideUncirculated: $30.00 – $23,000.00
1909 VDB Penny Doubled Die Obverse, RB (Regular Strike)
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3rd Party PriceUncirculated: $89.00 – $1,438.00
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eBayUncirculated: $71.00 – $715.00
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PCGS Price GuideUncirculated: $150.00 – $2,000.00
1909 Penny Indian, RD (Proof)
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3rd Party PriceCirculated: $603.00 – $1,207.00Uncirculated: $178.00 – $18,975.00
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eBayUncirculated: $407.50 – $1,100.00
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PCGS Price GuideUncirculated: $200.00 – $15,000.00
1909 Penny Indian, BN (Proof)
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3rd Party PriceCirculated: $53.00 – $112.00Uncirculated: $67.00 – $1,560.00
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eBayCirculated: $149.00Uncirculated: $127.50 – $975.00
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PCGS Price GuideCirculated: $115.00 – $125.00Uncirculated: $150.00 – $1,300.00
1909 Penny Lincoln, RB (Regular Strike)
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3rd Party PriceCirculated: $2,300.00Uncirculated: $0.25 – $2,467.50
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eBayUncirculated: $16.51 – $2,799.95
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PCGS Price GuideUncirculated: $30.00 – $2,500.00
1909-S/S Penny S/Horizontal S, BN (Regular Strike)
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3rd Party PriceCirculated: $53.00 – $352.50Uncirculated: $121.00 – $780.00
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eBayCirculated: $42.00 – $875.00Uncirculated: $226.59 – $660.00
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PCGS Price GuideCirculated: $50.00 – $320.00Uncirculated: $330.00 – $950.00
1909-S Penny Lincoln, RB (Regular Strike)
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3rd Party PriceCirculated: $81.00 – $262.03Uncirculated: $2.50 – $3,360.00
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eBayCirculated: $152.50 – $235.85Uncirculated: $175.00 – $3,999.95
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PCGS Price GuideUncirculated: $360.00 – $3,200.00
1909 Penny Lincoln, BN (Proof)
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3rd Party PriceCirculated: $403.00Uncirculated: $219.00 – $3,290.00
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eBayUncirculated: $499.00 – $1,995.00
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PCGS Price GuideCirculated: $335.00 – $360.00Uncirculated: $410.00 – $6,500.00
1909-S/S Penny S/Horizontal S (Regular Strike)
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eBayCirculated: $115.00
1909 Penny Indian, RB (Regular Strike)
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3rd Party PriceCirculated: $21.00Uncirculated: $31.00 – $8,700.00
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eBayCirculated: $12.95 – $1,357.17Uncirculated: $23.60 – $660.00
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PCGS Price GuideUncirculated: $60.00 – $3,250.00
1909-S/S Penny S/Horizontal S, RD (Regular Strike)
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3rd Party PriceCirculated: $54.00 – $299.00Uncirculated: $196.00 – $32,900.00
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eBayCirculated: $90.00 – $199.99Uncirculated: $178.00 – $7,250.00
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PCGS Price GuideUncirculated: $400.00 – $29,000.00
1909-S/S Penny RPM FS-1501, BN (Regular Strike)
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3rd Party PriceCirculated: $65.00 – $305.50
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eBayCirculated: $115.00 – $225.00Uncirculated: $475.00 – $600.00
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PCGS Price GuideCirculated: $95.00 – $360.00Uncirculated: $365.00 – $900.00
1909-S/S Penny RPM FS-1501, RB (Regular Strike)
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3rd Party PriceUncirculated: $282.00 – $372.00
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PCGS Price GuideUncirculated: $410.00 – $2,150.00
1909-S/S Penny RPM FS-1501, RD (Regular Strike)
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3rd Party PriceUncirculated: $320.00 – $3,290.00
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eBayUncirculated: $2,250.00
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PCGS Price GuideUncirculated: $460.00 – $3,200.00
1909 Penny Indian DDO FS-101 S-1, BN (Regular Strike)
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3rd Party PriceCirculated: $94.00 – $120.00Uncirculated: $168.00 – $432.00
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eBayCirculated: $27.88 – $89.00Uncirculated: $9.99 – $32.06
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PCGS Price GuideCirculated: $5.00 – $245.00Uncirculated: $270.00 – $800.00
1909 VDB Penny, RD (Proof)
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3rd Party PriceUncirculated: $3,080.00 – $70,500.00
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eBayUncirculated: $45,500.00
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PCGS Price GuideUncirculated: $9,000.00 – $380,000.00
1909 Penny Lincoln, RB (Proof)
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3rd Party PriceUncirculated: $299.00 – $10,800.00
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eBayUncirculated: $505.00 – $4,234.70
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PCGS Price GuideUncirculated: $435.00 – $11,500.00
1909 Penny Indian DDO FS-101 S-1, RB (Regular Strike)
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3rd Party PriceUncirculated: $456.00 – $660.00
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eBayCirculated: $27.00 – $40.00Uncirculated: $475.00
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PCGS Price GuideUncirculated: $325.00 – $1,050.00
1909 VDB Penny DDO FS-1101, BN (Regular Strike)
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3rd Party PriceCirculated: $35.00 – $231.00Uncirculated: $134.00 – $2,585.00
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eBayCirculated: $23.50 – $220.00Uncirculated: $90.00 – $850.00
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PCGS Price GuideCirculated: $46.00 – $165.00Uncirculated: $175.00 – $800.00
1909 VDB Penny DDO FS-1101, RB (Regular Strike)
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3rd Party PriceUncirculated: $79.00 – $1,380.00
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eBayUncirculated: $18.50 – $1,124.99
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PCGS Price GuideUncirculated: $200.00 – $2,050.00
1909 VDB Penny DDO FS-1101, RD (Regular Strike)
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3rd Party PriceUncirculated: $139.00 – $12,075.00
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eBayUncirculated: $280.00 – $2,999.99
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PCGS Price GuideUncirculated: $350.00 – $16,000.00
1909 VDB Penny DDO FS-1102, BN (Regular Strike)
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3rd Party PriceCirculated: $98.00Uncirculated: $81.00 – $305.50
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eBayCirculated: $35.00 – $109.99Uncirculated: $82.69 – $760.00
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PCGS Price GuideCirculated: $22.00 – $85.00Uncirculated: $90.00 – $500.00
1909 VDB Penny DDO FS-1102, RB (Regular Strike)
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3rd Party PriceUncirculated: $71.00 – $1,560.00
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eBayUncirculated: $25.00 – $455.00
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PCGS Price GuideUncirculated: $135.00 – $1,000.00
1909 VDB Penny DDO FS-1102, RD (Regular Strike)
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3rd Party PriceUncirculated: $69.00 – $24,150.00
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eBayUncirculated: $101.00 – $2,224.00
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PCGS Price GuideUncirculated: $180.00 – $30,000.00
1909-S/S Penny S/Horizontal S, FS-1502, BN (Regular Strike)
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3rd Party PriceCirculated: $70.40 – $186.00Uncirculated: $199.75 – $353.00
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eBayCirculated: $87.51 – $184.99
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PCGS Price GuideCirculated: $110.00 – $340.00Uncirculated: $350.00 – $925.00
1909-S/S Penny S/Horizontal S FS-1502, RB (Regular Strike)
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3rd Party PriceUncirculated: $360.00 – $1,680.00
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eBayUncirculated: $400.00
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PCGS Price GuideUncirculated: $365.00 – $1,500.00
1909-S/S Penny S/Horizontal S FS-1502, RD (Regular Strike)
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3rd Party PriceUncirculated: $356.03 – $16,800.00
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eBayUncirculated: $897.00
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PCGS Price GuideUncirculated: $425.00 – $3,050.00
Design and Specifications of the 1909 Cent
The 1909 cent marks a significant milestone in American numismatics. It was the first year of the Lincoln cent, which replaced the Indian Head cent design. This new design commemorated the 100th anniversary of Abraham Lincoln’s birth. The Lincoln cent became one of the longest-running coin designs in U.S. history, with the obverse still in use today.
The initial release included the designer’s initials (VDB) on the reverse, which caused controversy and led to their removal mid-year, creating two distinct varieties.
| Weight | 3.11 grams |
|---|---|
| Diameter | 19.05 mm |
| Mint Marks | Philadelphia (no mark), San Francisco (S), and VDB initials on some varieties |
| Composition | 95% copper, 5% tin and zinc |
| Obverse Design | Portrait of Abraham Lincoln, designed by Victor David Brenner |
| Reverse Design | Two wheat ears (Wheat Penny design), designed by Victor David Brenner |
Rarity Factors and Value Drivers
The condition of 1909 cents significantly impacts their value, particularly for the scarcer varieties. Uncirculated examples with original mint luster command substantial premiums. The 1909-S VDB, being a key date, sees dramatic price increases in higher grades.
Red copper examples (those retaining original mint color) are highly prized, while brown examples (those that have darkened over time) are more common and less valuable. Strike quality is important, with well-struck coins showing full details on Lincoln’s hair and the wheat ears.
Philadelphia, No Mint Mark
Mintage: 72,702,618
Rarity Scale: Common
Circulation Status: Widely Circulated
Preservation Rarity: Scarce in grades MS65 and above
Varieties Errors: VDB and No VDB varieties
Market Demand: High, due to first-year issue status
San Francisco, S
Mintage: 1,825,000
Rarity Scale: Scarce
Circulation Status: Moderate Circulation
Preservation Rarity: Rare in grades MS65 and above
Varieties Errors: 1909-S VDB (484,000 minted) is a key date
Market Demand: Very High, especially for the 1909-S VDB
The presence of the VDB initials on the reverse is a crucial factor in determining value, especially for the San Francisco mint. The 1909-S VDB is one of the most famous and sought-after Lincoln cents.
Die varieties, such as doubled dies or repunched mint marks, can add significant value. Original rolls or sets from 1909 are extremely valuable due to their historical significance and rarity.
Coins with attractive, natural toning may command a premium among collectors. The historical significance of being the first year of issue for the Lincoln cent design adds to the overall appeal and value of all 1909 varieties.
This article originally appeared on Coins-value.com: 1909 Cent Value: Mint Varieties, Rarity, And Current Prices
