Possible VDB S??????

[Coin_Surfer]

I have had this for a while and I keep coming back to the thought that there is an S on there. It is a little hard to tell, but you can see something that (I think) looks like an S.
Advice would be greatly appreciated, because I am dying to get other peoples opinion. If the pics aren't good, and you know how to make them better by zooming in on one area, and making it more visible, that would also be greatly appreciated.

HH,
Coinsurfer

 

[K]

I did a couple of things to the picture you gave, it sure looks like a " S " mint mark to me dude! picture of the back?

BUMP!

 

[Coin_Surfer]

I did a couple of things to the picture you gave, it sure looks like a " S " mint mark to me dude! picture of the back?

BUMP!

Here is a pic of the back

 

[Tuberale]

I used to own one. First thing I did to mine was inquire of a knowledgeable friend, a former president of a local numismatic society for an opinion.

The first thing my friend stated was that there are many fakes. But after looking at my coin, he confirmed mine was a 1909 S VDB, and even offered to combine it in a lot of coins he was shipping to PCGS to get graded.

I think it might be wise to do the same thing with your coin, Coin_Surfer. I'd get a second and third opinion before sending for grading myself. To me, it looks like there has been doubling in the T and R of the motto. PCGS lists a DDO in the 1909 VDB cent, but does not list a 1909 S VDB DDO.

I'm not expert enough to confirm DDO with these photos. PCGS photos show the 1909 VDB DDO has doubling in the date and LIBERTY, but nothing is said about the motto.

I hope I'm wrong, and really do have the real thing.

BTW, the odd discoloration on the obverse of the coin may be from tape used to hold the coin in an early album. This can be removed using Q-tips dipped in acetone. Be gentle.

 

[Jeffro]

No "S"....

That area is much to low for the mintmark. Notice how the S is up to the bottom of the 9 in the other photo?

 

[Diver_Down]

I agree with everyone so far. What people are seeing does indeed look like an "S". But, you have to temper your enthusiasm as it looks like and adulterated 1909 VDB to imitate the Holy Grail of Wheat Cents. The "S" is too low and off-kilter compared to a genuine one. Also, there is reasonable detail on all other facets of the coin both obverse and reverse, but the only device lacking detail is the "mintmark". Too many redflags for it to be sent for grading. You should take it to a trusted numismatist who has a genuine specimen to compare. Allow an unbiased person make the comparison under a microscope and base your judgement from there. At the very least, you have a teaching specimen of an adulterated 1909 VDB. Hopefully, you have the real thing and the red flags are just aberrations.

 

[Rakattack]

There are 4 mintmark positions for the 1909S VDB.

What looks to be an S is far too low to match any of the 4 mintmark positions.

Either discoloration or a bad fake. Still a nice 1909 VDB

 

[jrf30]

Looks like a D to me. NOtice the straight line on the left side?

But they didn't MAKE a D in 1909. So there goes THAT theory.

 

[Coin_Surfer]

Is it going to remove the goldish color, or the black spot?

 

[Tuberale]

Is it going to remove the goldish color, or the black spot?

I hope you're asking me this question.

Acetone will not affect the color (patina) at all.

As I don't know what the black spot is, I can't tell you about that. But it looks possible that much of the surface of the obverse may have old tape residue on it. Acetone will remove that. Finger-nail polish remover acetone is not stronge enough. It needs to be paint-thinner acetone, like you'd get from a hardware store. Dip the cotton portion of a Q-tip into the acetone, and apply to the coin surface immediately. DO NOT USE NEAR FIRE, as acetone is highly flammable. If the Q-tip becomes dark brown or black, use another Q-tip. Q-tips are cheap. Don't be afraid to use 3-5 Q-tips, as long as you are still removing gunk from the coin surface. Acetone will only react to organic material.

Acetone cleaning of itself will not affect the condition or value of a coin. However, long-term exposure to tape is considered "environmental damage" by PCGS, and does cause minute pitting of the coin surface over time. If that happened, it happened a long time ago. You should not be concerned about it now.

Acetone will affect "carbon spotting", at least in some cases. But each coin has its own history. How your spot came to be on the coin will affect whether acetone can remove it. If the black spot was caused by putting the coin in an early fuse box, for example, that spot will remain no matter what you do.

 

[dossier]

Is it going to remove the goldish color, or the black spot?

I hope you're asking me this question.

Acetone will not affect the color (patina) at all.

As I don't know what the black spot is, I can't tell you about that. But it looks possible that much of the surface of the obverse may have old tape residue on it. Acetone will remove that. Finger-nail polish remover acetone is not stronge enough. It needs to be paint-thinner acetone, like you'd get from a hardware store. Dip the cotton portion of a Q-tip into the acetone, and apply to the coin surface immediately. DO NOT USE NEAR FIRE, as acetone is highly flammable. If the Q-tip becomes dark brown or black, use another Q-tip. Q-tips are cheap. Don't be afraid to use 3-5 Q-tips, as long as you are still removing gunk from the coin surface. Acetone will only react to organic material.

Acetone cleaning of itself will not affect the condition or value of a coin. However, long-term exposure to tape is considered "environmental damage" by PCGS, and does cause minute pitting of the coin surface over time. If that happened, it happened a long time ago. You should not be concerned about it now.

Acetone will affect "carbon spotting", at least in some cases. But each coin has its own history. How your spot came to be on the coin will affect whether acetone can remove it. If the black spot was caused by putting the coin in an early fuse box, for example, that spot will remain no matter what you do.

I am not well informed with cleaning coins but I will go ahead and say do not use any chemical solutions without another opinion first. Some things cannot be undone.