Roll hunters have been finding thousands of a 2023 Lincoln Shield Cent variety featuring a second “V” after the designer initials “V.D.B.,” for Victor David Brenner.
Top holdering companies PCGS, NGC and ANACS are slabbing this variety. Here’s how it looks:
You can find this error in pocket change, too, providing the coin is almost uncirculated or higher. The extra “V” would be hard to detect in worn coins. You also may need a loupe or magnification to affirm the find.
The Mint isn’t sure how this error happened but suspect it did during the die preparation stage.
Dies are heated to 1,800°F, doused in water and then heated again to make the steel more durable. The die is cleaned and examined under magnification to detect flaws; then it is buffed for a smooth strike.
Experts surmise the extra “V” happened at this stage. A mischievous could have punched the extra “V” into the die or a glitch occurred in the software controlling the die design.
In 2023, Coin World did an exclusive on the VDB-V cent, estimating how many made it into circulation. Paul Gilkes wrote, “Lincoln cent dies are capable of producing in excess of 1 million coins per die pair.” That means you have a great chance of finding one.
Coin World also reported that ANACS has certified 94 examples: NGC, 84 examples; and PCGS, 67. Examples have been graded as high as MS68.
Typically, however, holdered examples will be in the MS64-66 range, like the one below.
Finding the extra V is part of the fun. Prices have been trending downward in the past 1 1/2 years. The early finds were selling for $375-500. But now you can purchase excellent raw examples for under $25.
Because so many were minted, people have found rolls containing 50 of the error. eBay has several sellers offering the variety at basement prices.
If you like posts like this, please subscribe so you can get our weekly newsletter and be informed whenever there is a new article or column.
Proxiblog also has hundreds of followers on Facebook Coin Groups. To get the latest discussion and commentaries, click here.
You can find more information about errors and varieties as well as buying and bidding on coins in Coin News Updated: The Essential Guide to Online Bidding. Please consider purchasing the work for yourself or a friend, as it underwrites this hobbyist website. Thank you.
