Week Twelve

Coin of the Week: 1909 S V.D.B. Cent
Phew! That’s a long name! And a great story.
The Indian head cent of 1859-1909 was a very big success. In 1909, it was the centennial of Abraham Lincoln’s birth. So the Mint decided to create a design to celebrate it. This was the Lincoln cent. The wheat pennies of 1909-1958 are also well known. But the most famous is the 1909 S V.D.B. cent.  Only about 484,000 were produced, and when you consider how many people collect wheat pennies, that number is puny. Today these coins are valued at $750-$2000, depending on condition. Other 1909 pennies had the V.D.B. on the bottom of the reverse. But they were struck at the Philadelphia Mint, and not worth as much. The V.D.B. stands for Victor David Brenner, the designer. His initials on the coins were not very popular, so they were removed the next year. Today, the initials can be found underneath Lincoln’s bust on the obverse.

Trial and Error: $50 Gold Coin

In 1877, William Barber, Chief Engraver of the U.S. Mint, Decided to take a chance.

He designed the first $50 coin in the U.S.A.  Barber slightly modified James Longacre’s $20 gold design, and created one of the greatest coins of all time.
Unfortunately, Barber’s idea didn’t quite take off, which paved the way for the failing of George Morgan’s $100 Union.
Today, only 4 specimens are known to exist. Two gold (both in the Smithsonian) and two copper. However, the idea didn’t leave, and there have been several $50 golds, or Half Unions, created with different designs.

$50 Gold Piece (Half Union)

Pan-Pacific Expo Commemorative $50

$50 Gold Buffalo

Modern Gold Eagle

Making a Mint: West Point

The West Point, New York Mint started producing coins in 1937, and for 35 years, it produced Cents without a mintmark. It is also a bullion depository, and is sometimes referred to as the “Fort Knox of silver”. But it was not always as distinguished.

The West Point Military Academy was founded in 1802. It was the school that taught such famous generals as Ulysses S. Grant and Robert E. Lee. It had no coinage facility, and was not even involved with the U.S. Mint. Today is produces American Eagles and Commemorative coins. There has even been a West Point bicentennial commemorative silver dollar. And it is now a very distinguished Mint faculty.

West Point Bicentennial

West Point Mint