* Designer: Victor David Brenner
* Mintage: 272,314,500 (Philadelphia)
* Composition: 95% copper, 5% tin and zinc
* Weight: 4.25 grams
* Diameter: 19.2 millimeters
* Thickness: 1.52 millimeters
* Features: Liberty Head on the obverse, Roman numeral date "MCMVIIII" (1908) below, "LIBERTY" above, and "IN GOD WE TRUST" to the right; the reverse features a wreath of wheat, cotton, and tobacco encircling the denomination "ONE CENT," below which is "UNITED STATES OF AMERICA," and "E PLURIBUS UNUM" above
Value:
- Good Condition: $1.50
- Fine Condition: $4.00
- Very Fine Condition: $8.00
- Extremely Fine Condition: $15.00
- Uncirculated Condition: $500.00 and up
Additional Information:
- The 1909 penny is also known as the "VDB penny" because of the initials "VDB" (for Victor David Brenner) that appear on the reverse of the coin. Brenner was the chief engraver of the United States Mint from 1892 to 1917, and he was responsible for the design of the Lincoln penny and the Buffalo nickel.
- The 1909 VDB penny was the first coin to be struck with Brenner's initials, and it was also the last penny to be struck with the Roman numeral date. The following year, the United States Mint began using Arabic numerals to date its coins.
- The 1909 VDB penny is a relatively common coin, but it is still a valuable addition to any coin collection.