1909 V.D.B. Matte Proof Wheat Penny Value

1909 V.D.B. Matte Proof Lincoln Cent

VarietyProof

A scarce 1909 Matte Proof variety bearing V.D.B.

1909 V.D.B. Matte Proof Wheat Penny: front (type example, 1909 Philadelphia VDB cent) — Type example: 1909 Philadelphia VDB cent. Your coin's date and mint mark may differ.
Photo credits
National Numismatic Collection, National Museum of American History (photo: Jaclyn Nash) (PD; source)

1909 V.D.B. Matte Proof Wheat Penny: back (type example, 1909 Philadelphia VDB cent) — Type example: 1909 Philadelphia VDB cent. Your coin's date and mint mark may differ.
Photo credits
National Numismatic Collection, National Museum of American History (photo: Jaclyn Nash) (PD; source)

Often fakedBusiness strikes are sometimes offered as matte proofs. Have it authenticated by PCGS or NGC before buying or selling. Check the signs below and weigh it.

Value by condition

Penny Value estimate · values as of Q4 2026

Proof

$5,300

Brown

By grade

Typical value at each grade and colour. Penny Value estimate.
Grade	Brown	Red-Brown	Red
MS-60Mint State (Uncirculated)	$5,300	$6,300	—
MS-63Mint State (Uncirculated)	$7,400	$8,800	$16,000
MS-65Mint State (Uncirculated)	$23,000	$27,000	$50,000

Values as of Q4 2026 · Penny Value estimate · based on 1 recorded sales · few sales, so treat it as a rough guide

Penny Value estimate, 2026-Q4, from public sale records, mintage and survival data. It isn't a price guide or an offer.

How Penny Value estimates values

Check your own penny

Take a photo of each side. Penny Value reads the date and the mint mark, tells you if it could be a 1909 V.D.B. Matte Proof and what to check.

Check your own penny

Penny Value is an Android app for now, so it isn't on the App Store. The values and checks on this page are free to use.Penny Value is an Android app. Open this page on your Android phone to check your own penny with a photo.

How to identify it

A matte proof with V.D.B. on the tails side; only about 1,194 were made

What to check

What a genuine 1909 V.D.B. Matte Proof shows:

V.D.B. on the tails side: YesAre the letters V.D.B. at the bottom centre of the reverse, between the wheat stalks near the rim?
Proof finish (mirror fields, frosted design): YesDoes the coin have mirror-like fields and sharp, often frosted, design (a proof), rather than normal satin mint lustre?

Specs

Series: Lincoln Wheat Cent
Year: 1909
Mint: Philadelphia (no mint mark)
Strike: Proof
Mint mark: Below the date, on the front
Metal: Bronze (95% copper, 5% tin and zinc)
Weight: 3.11 g
Mintage: 1,194
Matte proofs with V.D.B.
Source: Wikipedia
Designer: Victor David Brenner

Other varieties of this date

1909 Matte Proof (no V.D.B.)
Philadelphia · Proof · 2,352 made
Proof
$410proof

Other 1909 pennies

1909 (no V.D.B.)
Philadelphia · 72.7 million made
7.5¢worn
$24.00MS-60
1909-S (no V.D.B.)
San Francisco · 1,825,000 made
Key date
$87.00worn
$180MS-60

1909 penny values · Every Lincoln Wheat Cent · Penny value chart