The Lincoln cent first appeared in 1909 to honor the 100th anniversary of Abraham Lincoln's birth.
Victor David Brenner designed the new coin to replace the long-running Indian Head cent.
He placed his initials, V.D.B., at the bottom edge on the reverse side of the coin.
The San Francisco Mint struck a small run of these pennies during the very first year of production.
The public soon complained that Brenner's initials were too prominent and looked like advertising.
Mint officials quickly removed the initials, which cut production short at the San Francisco facility.
That sudden stop made this specific date and mintmark combination famous across the hobby.
Today, it sits at rank 8 among the top 200 most valuable pennies collectors chase.
An exceptional example of this penny crossed the auction block with SB in an April 2022 sale.
The coin was certified in an astonishing grade of 67 Red.
On the standard 70-point grading scale, a 67 grade represents a coin in nearly flawless condition.
The Red designation means the copper retains nearly all of its original bright mint luster without toning brown.
Bidding ended with a major sale record for the date during that April 2022 event.
Most surviving examples show heavy pocket wear or dark brown oxidation from spending decades in circulation.
Finding an early copper penny that preserved full red color and clean surfaces for over a century is truly unusual.
Top-tier collectors compete fiercely whenever a specimen preserved at this quality level reaches an auction.
Collector demand drives the strong prices seen for this coin.
Every Lincoln cent enthusiast dreams of owning one to complete their set.
The total mintage was low to begin with because production stopped abruptly in 1909.
While many people saved uncirculated coins as souvenirs back then, very few kept their original bright red luster intact.
Copper reacts easily with moisture, air, and paper envelopes over time.
Because copper tarnishes so easily, full Red coins in Mint State 67 condition are genuine condition rarities.
The fame of the coin also keeps demand constant year after year.
Even non-collectors often recognize the name and understand that it carries substantial value.
You need a good light source and a magnifying glass of at least 5x power to inspect the details.
First, check the front of the coin directly below the 1909 date for a small "S" mintmark.
Next, turn the coin over and look at the bottom rim between the two wheat stalks.
You should see the three distinct letters V.D.B. stamped clearly along the bottom edge.
Be careful when examining raw examples, because counterfeiters often try to alter common coins.
Some fakes feature an added "S" mintmark or have initials glued onto a standard 1909-S reverse.
You can use Coin Value Checker on your smartphone to scan your coin and get a quick preliminary check on its features.
Look closely at the shape and placement of the mintmark under high magnification to spot signs of tampering or glue lines.
If the coin looks genuine, consider sending it to a reputable third-party grading service for official authentication.
If you are pressed for time, our breakdown of each coin valuation app we tried is the efficient route.