1909-S VDB Penny Value: What the Key Date Is Worth
A genuine 1909-S VDB penny is worth about $860 in worn Good condition, $1,187 in Very Fine and around $2,000 to $2,500 uncirculated. Only 484,000 were made. It needs both an S under the date and the VDB initials on the back, and fakes are common.
- Mintage
- 484,000.
- Mint mark
- S, under the date on the front.
- VDB
- The designer's initials, for Victor David Brenner, at the bottom of the back between the wheat stalks.
Value by grade
| Grade | Value |
|---|---|
| Good (G4) | $860 |
| Very Good (VG8) | $929 |
| Fine (F12) | $1,064 |
| Very Fine (VF20) | $1,187 |
| Extremely Fine (EF40) | $1,345 |
| About Uncirculated (AU50) | $1,599 |
| Uncirculated (MS60) | $2,033 |
| Choice Uncirculated (MS63) | $2,498 |
Retail values from USA Coin Book. PCGS lists MS65 RD at $8,500, and an MS67 RD sold for $170,800 in January 2026. Values checked Oct 8, 2026.
What to look for
- Find the S under the date and the VDB at the bottom of the back. You need both.
- A 1909 VDB with no S is the Philadelphia version. It was made in the tens of millions and is worth far less.
- A 1909-S without VDB is a different, cheaper key date, about $103 in Good.
Fakes and lookalikes
- The most common fake is a Philadelphia 1909 VDB with an S glued or soldered under the date. Look for seams or a color change around the S.
- Altered 1909-S cents with VDB initials added also exist.
- Buy this coin only certified by PCGS or NGC.
Find the keepers in your coin jar
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FAQ
How much is a 1909-S VDB penny worth?
About $860 in Good, $1,187 in Very Fine and around $2,000 to $2,500 in uncirculated grades.
Is a 1909 VDB penny with no mint mark valuable?
It carries a premium over common wheat cents but is nowhere near the 1909-S VDB, because tens of millions were made.
Why is the 1909-S VDB rare?
San Francisco struck only 484,000 before the VDB initials were removed from the design.
Related coins
Sources
Values are retail estimates or recorded sale prices from the sources above, checked Oct 8, 2026. What a dealer pays you is usually less than retail.
Also available as Markdown.