U.S. Coins & Currency 447
1909 VDB cent
Edwin M writes: I recently found a penny that has the initials VDB on the rear and the date is 1909. Is this penny worth anything?
The initials V.D.B. were those of the designer of the Lincoln cent, Victor D. Brenner. There was a controversy over whether the initials should be so prominent or even on the coin at all. The initials were removed the same year creating varieties with an without the letters V.D.B.
The 1909 V.D.B. Philadelphia issue (no mint mark) was heavily hoarded as first year issues often are. There were 27,995,000 struck. Circulated pieces are plentiful and are available for approximately $8-$10.
The rare and expensive issues are the 1909-S, 1,825,000 struck, and the 1909-S V.D.B. of which only 484,000 were minted. Note that the V.D.B. was restored in 1918 to the base of Lincoln’s shoulder where it still remains today.
Pontiac Chief of the Sixes advertising token
Wade M. writes: I found a coin with my metal detector, that has an indian head on one side with the writing Pontiac Chief of the Sixes. The back reads Product of General Motors. Could you give me some idea where this coin was made, what was its purpose, and does it have any value?
You have an advertising token, issued by General Motors to promote its Pontiac line of automobiles. (c. mid 1950’s?). Tokens like this were a way of keeping the advertisers message at hand. They were given out freely and people used them as pocket pieces, holed them for keyrings but never threw them away.
Advertising tokens, medals and other items like this that are not official money go under the heading of “exonumia”. Collectors enjoy these pieces as they often have an interesting story. Approximate value range, depending on condition: $3- $15.
1946 wartime silver planchet Jefferson Nickel
John L. asks: Do you have any information on 1946 Silver planchet Nickel or transitional error nickel that struck on silver war nickel planchet? It would be something like the the 1943 copper cent. Any information would greatly be appreciated. Thanks.
There are 1946 nickels struck in error on obsolete wartime silver blanks. These are quite rare. This error was caused by the same event that caused the 1943 copper cent or the 1944 steel cent. That is, the coin was struck on blanks left over from the previous year.
Only a few pieces (4 +) have been authenticated. If you believe you have one, see the CoinSite Links page under Grading Services for information about certification.
How do I tell the difference between small and large date 1970 proof set?
Fred L. asks: How do I tell the difference between small date and large date 1970 proof set?
On the small date, the “7” lines up perfectly with the tops of the other numbers in 1970. On the large date the top of the “7” is lower than either the “9” or “0”.
“Gold” state quarters?
Jeff H. writes: Hey Doc, My question concerns the “Gold” state quarters that I have. They are from the Philadelphia Mint and are in the states of Georgia, New Jersey, Delaware, Connecticut & Pennsylvania. They are not copper in color but are in fact the same color as the “Gold” Dollar. I have attached a picture for you to see. Did they make a “Gold” commemorative set or something?
Your picture shows a regular quarter that has been gold plated. This is not an error, i.e. struck on a dollar planchet. If that were so there would be a larger border around the coin, the dollar planchet is larger. You can prove this by simply weighing the coin. A standard clad quarter weighs 5.67 grams.
Gold plated coins are a promotional item, have no collector value, and don’t receive an additional market premium for being plated. Note that gold plating coins for advertising, promotions and high school electrolysis experiments have been going on for some time.
Chester Arthur medal
Barrie writes: Picture attached/Thanks. (This is in response to a letter requesting information about the pictured Chester Arthur medal)
This is one of the “premium” tokens, part of a complete set of privately minted presidential medals that were prevalent in the 1950-1960 era. These were promoted by various companies (it made them look patriotic in the communist-witch-hunting 50’s ). There are variations in brass, nickel and copper. There is little or no collector value in your piece, especially in the damaged condition shown in the picture.
Collectors of this type of material want complete sets in new condition. For example, a complete set of the Shell Oil presidents medals in the original cardboard holder brings about $75 in exonumia auctions. If you like medals, write to the Philadelphia Mint and request their medals catalog. They sell reproductions of most 19th and 20th century official medals at nominal prices. They are quite well done and struck in heavy yellow brass. The subjects include Indian Peace medals, life-saving medals and presidential inaugural medals. .
When was the last year the Susan B. Anthony dollar was made?
Don R. asks:Â When was the last year the Susan B. Anthony dollar was made?
The last year of the Susan B. Anthony dollar was 1999. The coin was struck from 1979-1981 and then 1999. The 1981 issue is only available in Mint sets, they were never released for general circulation.
Though the coin was never really was popular for currency, they were used extensively in Postal Service vending machines, municipal transportation turnstiles and buses and were capable of being used in soda and other types of vending machines and were used in casino gambling devices.
By 1998 the Treasury’s supply of these coins was dwindling and  the new gold-colored Sacagawea dollar wasn’t going to be available until 2000. The Treasury was forced to order more dollar coins to be able to satisfy the demand and so another run of SBA dollars was struck in 1999.
This isn’t the only time in U.S. history that this has happened. The Morgan Dollar ceased production in 1904 and then was struck for most of the year in 1921.
Why can I see the watermark without holding it to the light?
Mike writes: Here is a scan of a twenty dollar bill I found (1996) and the Watermark is on the outside and can be seen with out holding it up to the light, both sides. Why is that?
This is a genuine FRN. It looks as if someone stained the paper either by accident or intentionally to see the watermark. Watermarks aren’t part of the printing process, they are part of the manufacture of the paper. This is not a printing error.