1909 S VBD

[caretaker]

I was watching this show on TV last week, it was about doing away with the penny, and felt sad, because I save my change and always dig penny signals hoping to find Wheaties, so last weekend I went out detecting. I hit the beach, a field, and a few playgrounds, put the finds in my pouch and went home, but when I dug a penny, I saw the wheat on the back of it, can't see the date without a loupe now a days, this week I was looking thru my finds and came across this, it blew me away, I looked on line and found out there are fakes out there, my heart sank, guys look at this coin, I can't tell, what do you think?

 

[ncsuwolf]

Are you saying you dug this coin?

 

[BigWaveDave]

Now wait a minute…
This to me looks legit, I could be wrong.
No way you dug this buried, I don’t buy that. But maybe you found this as a surface find in a playground and didn’t notice it at the time. Maybe just maybe a kid got into Dads or Grandpas collection, not knowing or caring about pennies, and his Gramps did a really shitty job protecting a legit $2-3K coin.
You need to get this checked out. First thing I’d do is run it buy my LCS, then send it in for grading.
Again, I’m no expert, and can’t say for sure either way if it’s the real deal… but if it is, Bro… Huge Congrats on your find.

 

[l.cutler]

The Chinese counterfeiters are getting pretty good. There are a few areas that look suspicious to me, but probably best to have someone look at it in hand.

 

[ARC]

The Chinese counterfeiters are getting pretty good. There are a few areas that look suspicious to me, but probably best to have someone look at it in hand.

Agreed.... and must be weighed.

 

[russau]

It sure looks very pristine for a dug coin to me !

 

[ToddsPoint]

I’d say there is no way a 1909 cent would still be red. When cents are graded, they are R, RB, or B. Red, red brown, or brown. Copper will oxidize. That penny would have had to be protected from air all those yrs.
Here’s a Chinese fake.

 

[caretaker]

It could have been in a playground in the mulch, I have dug others show and tell coins in the playgrounds over the years, and it could have been from change I got at the store , I always buy some dogs after detecting, sorry I didn't think of that, cause it is in great shape, that's why I thought it was fake

 

[caretaker]

I’d say there is no way a 1909 cent would still be red. When cents are graded, they are R, RB, or B. Red, red brown, or brown. Copper will oxidize. That penny would have had to be protected from air all those yrs.
Here’s a Chinese fake.View attachment 2235312

I’d say there is no way a 1909 cent would still be red. When cents are graded, they are R, RB, or B. Red, red brown, or brown. Copper will oxidize. That penny would have had to be protected from air all those yrs.
Here’s a Chinese fake.View attachment 2235312

that's what I was thinking, been collecting and digging a long time

 

[AU Seeker]

I was watching this show on TV last week, it was about doing away with the penny, and felt sad, because I save my change and always dig penny signals hoping to find Wheaties, so last weekend I went out detecting. I hit the beach, a field, and a few playgrounds, put the finds in my pouch and went home, but when I dug a penny, I saw the wheat on the back of it, can't see the date without a loupe now a days, this week I was looking thru my finds and came across this, it blew me away, I looked on line and found out there are fakes out there, my heart sank, guys look at this coin, I can't tell, what do you think?

Unfortunately I say this is a fake, I can't zoom in close enough on the mint mark to see finer details like if to see a small dot inside the upper loop of the S is there or not, but on the reverse the VDB is all wrong, the crossbar on the B on a real coin is slanted, yours is not, also the N is wrong in the word UNITED, just these 2 differences say it's a fake, there could be other signs but these 2 just stand out and there's no need to look for any others.

Here's a couple of videos showing some of the differences to look for.

 

[ARC]

I’d say there is no way a 1909 cent would still be red. When cents are graded, they are R, RB, or B. Red, red brown, or brown. Copper will oxidize. That penny would have had to be protected from air all those yrs.
Here’s a Chinese fake.View attachment 2235312

Actually... they are in Red out there... they are just big bucks.
here is one of many for sale...

1909-S VDB * PCGS MS65 RD RED LINCOLN Wheat Cent * PREMIUM GEM Intercept Shield! | eBay

The product is a 1909-S VDB PCGS MS65 RD Red Lincoln Wheat Cent from the United States. It has been certified and graded as MS 65 by PCGS. The coin features a beautiful red color and is a valuable addition to any coin collection, especially for numismatists interested in Small Cents and the...

www.ebay.com

 

[E-Trac-Ohio]

I'd just take it to a local Coin Shop and see what they have to say.

 

[Trezurehunter]

I agree with the rest. That coin does not look like it was in the ground. I would take it to a coin shop to see what their opinion is. You could even send it in to be graded, but be prepared to spend the roughly $30.00 fee to have it sent back in a "body bag" as a fake. On the other hand, if it is real, you hit the jackpot with that one.

 

[PetesPockets55]

Mint mark position is a tell-all as well.
Also, if I remember correctly, there are only 4 positions that "S" could be in, in relation to the date.

 

[tahomatom]

I was watching this show on TV last week, it was about doing away with the penny, and felt sad, because I save my change and always dig penny signals hoping to find Wheaties, so last weekend I went out detecting. I hit the beach, a field, and a few playgrounds, put the finds in my pouch and went home, but when I dug a penny, I saw the wheat on the back of it, can't see the date without a loupe now a days, this week I was looking thru my finds and came across this, it blew me away, I looked on line and found out there are fakes out there, my heart sank, guys look at this coin, I can't tell, what do you think?

If it real, you hit the big one! Good job!

 

[Digger RJ]

I was watching this show on TV last week, it was about doing away with the penny, and felt sad, because I save my change and always dig penny signals hoping to find Wheaties, so last weekend I went out detecting. I hit the beach, a field, and a few playgrounds, put the finds in my pouch and went home, but when I dug a penny, I saw the wheat on the back of it, can't see the date without a loupe now a days, this week I was looking thru my finds and came across this, it blew me away, I looked on line and found out there are fakes out there, my heart sank, guys look at this coin, I can't tell, what do you think?

My wheats never look this good dug up. I’d have it looked at too. 🤷🏼‍♂️

 

[caretaker]

thanks guys, I looked at all the vids and it's a fake, I'm wondering where I dug it up, it had to be at a playground in the mulch, at least I can use it in my coin book as a filler