1909 Proof Set with Gold

The 1909 Proof Set is an important one in the realm of the humble Cent, as it marks the transition from Longacre's Indian Head design to the new Lincoln Head design of Victor D. Brenner. As nearly all numismatists know, the original design of the Lincoln Cent had Brenner's initials "VDB" at the bottom of the reverse, and their relative prominence became a subject of some controversy. Their removal later that year resulted in two varieties for 1909, both with and without the initials. The "with initials" variety is scarce, and despite a stated mintage of nearly 1,200 pieces, fewer than 15% of these matte Proof issues are known today. The remaining coins in the set are all struck in the traditional "brilliant" finish, and are of no particular rarity. The gold coins for 1909 were struck with a "Satin Finish" also sometimes referred to as a "Roman Finish." It was employed for only a few years and was not popular with collectors. As is the case with all Proof Gold, they are very rare coins with the original mintage for the upper denominations all under 100 pieces.

Notes: This set has bonuses. Please see the Set Composition for a listing.