By Jack Riley
The Lincoln cent series is arguably the most popular in numismatics, with many young collectors getting their start filling Whitman Folders in hopes to find the “key dates.” With such a popular series and many expensive coins to complete the set, one would expect to see many counterfeits. Many types of fake wheat cents exist, including altered dates, added mintmarks, cast coins, and plated cents. This article dives into a modern counterfeit common reverse used interchangeably on mainly key date coins that I refer to as the “IN-Line” reverse.
Images of two counterfeit 1909s VDB cents offered on eBay.
Both coins showcase a Deep N reverse (Type 2) which was used in 1909 and followed through the end of the series in 1958; however, all genuine 1909s VDB cents have a Shallow N (Type 1).
A comparison of the reverse shows common circulation marks between the two. A dent in the “O” culminating with the “IN” slash.
Interestingly this reverse was utilized with and without the “VDB” initials! This 1914-D and 1955 DDO share the “IN-Line” reverse with no remnants of the VDB initials.
This extensive family even consist of struck counterfeit common date “Off-center” errors!
Since viewing can be a challenge to the readers, I assembled close-up collage of the highlighted markers.
This has primarily been used to create counterfeit key date and semi key date coins. However, with the addition of the off-center strike 1946s, it is clear this can be found on common dates as well as counterfeit error coins.
If you are collecting key dates, especially the 1909-S VDB, be sure as well to view Michael Bugeja’s article with all the requisite die markers.
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