| Collecting coins is an enjoyment that you can | | | | Older coins, such as the 1787 Connecticut cent, |
| share with your family, while at the same time | | | | have a very special historical value in that the dies |
| becoming confident and developing a collection to | | | | they were struck with were prepared by hand. |
| pass down from generation to generation. | | | | This meant that only one could be made at a |
| One of the first steps in collecting coins is to | | | | time, instead of like today when hundreds can be |
| educate yourself so you are able to determine | | | | produced within the ease of a single minute. |
| what coins you need to search for, whether a | | | | Today these coins are apt to be weakly defined |
| certain coin is worth owning, if it offers a potential | | | | in all areas and the overall characteristics will show |
| investment, and if it is desirable due to its date or | | | | a definite charm. Another rare coin that will be |
| variety. Owning fine and expensive coins is great | | | | sure to have special historical value would be the |
| when acquiring specialized rarities into their | | | | 1909 VDB Lincoln cent. During the summer of |
| collection, but anyone who has a limited budget | | | | 1909 this coin first appeared. The initials VDB are |
| can still form an extremely interesting collection | | | | etched on the reverse, which stood for Victor |
| by adding inexpensive coin that have historical | | | | David Brenner, who created the design. |
| stories with them. | | | | Apparently the public objected to his initials being |
| Any coin can be interesting without having to be | | | | on this coin, so the United States Mint had them |
| expensive, of course it would be great to be able | | | | removed. |
| to afford those rare coins that are worth up to a | | | | Beginning with the 1878 dollar, the initial M |
| million dollars each, but in all reality not every | | | | appeared for designer George T. Morgan and |
| collector can afford such a luxury. Many coins | | | | beginning again in 1892 the initial B, for designer |
| available have amazing stories to tell that make | | | | Charles E. Barber, appeared on all dimes, quarters, |
| them just as exciting to own, but for the price of | | | | and half dollars that were minted by the United |
| a few dollars to a few hundred dollars. For | | | | States Mint. Even Augustus Saint-Gaudens' initials, |
| instance, 1857 large cent, 1787 Connecticut cent - | | | | ASG, began being etched into the obverse side of |
| draped bust left, 1909 V.D.B. Lincoln cent, or the | | | | the 1907 Double Eagles, and those made after |
| 1909 Indian cent, who all have fascinating stories | | | | that also. The public did not object to their initials |
| included within their history. | | | | being on their denomination, but yet the 1909 |
| The last year of the large-size cent, which was | | | | VDB Lincoln they had a real problem with it, which |
| produced between the years of 1793 and 1857, | | | | makes this coin so rare. Another edition was |
| the 1857 large cent has an etched its own place in | | | | released in 1909 of the Lincoln cent without the |
| the history of coin collecting. Production of these | | | | VDB initials, which created a new variety in this |
| large coins was ceased due to them become so | | | | coin. |
| troublesome in handling in commerce, so the | | | | The year of transition for the one-cent coin was |
| United States Mint began replacing them with a | | | | definitely 1909. At the beginning of 1859, the |
| smaller version called the Flying Eagle cent. During | | | | Indian penny was first minted, but was |
| the finally year of production, there were 333,456 | | | | discontinued after a relatively modest life in 1909. |
| large cents minted, so it is possible many were | | | | This coin represented the last of the Mohicans |
| never released and were melt. Acquiring your | | | | and although they are not high in popularity today, |
| very own 1857 large cent will provide you with a | | | | at one time they were definitely among the top |
| page of your own in history. | | | | 10 most actively collected series. |