They're both important but not the same thing.
D and S are mint marks, for Denver and San Francisco. Cents made in Philadelphia don't carry a P mint mark for a number of reasons.
VDB is the monogram of the Lincoln cent's designer Victor David Brenner.
Where the mint mark and initials intersect is the famed 1909 Lincoln penny. When it first was released Brenner put his initials on the back of the coin at the bottom. Other designers had put their initials on coins but his were far more prominent, and there was a public outcry. (There's also significant reason to believe that some of the protesters were motivated by bigotry against Brenner's religious beliefs.)
The Mint ordered the coin to be redesigned without "VDB" on the back. Philadelphia had struck a lot of them but San Francisco had only made 484,000 and the 1909-S VDB cent became almost an instant rarity. It remains a key date, with values as of 10/2009 ranging between $750 for a worn one to over $4000 for a coin in top condition (MS66)
In 1918 the Mint relented a bit, and Brenner's monogram was placed in microscopic letters under the fold in Lincoln's coat near the 7:00 position.
No a 1973 penny will not have VDB.
A penny that is 1909 VDB could get up to around $5. The reason is because a penny that is 1909 VDB has 28 million pennies minted.
VDB stands for Victor D Brenner. He designed the wheat cent observe and reverse. The Observe is still in use today.
The "D" is the mint mark, it stands for the Denver Mint
1909 S VDB 1909 S 1914 D 1922 plain 1931 S 1943 Bronze 1955 Double Die Obverse
No a 1973 penny will not have VDB.
A penny that is 1909 VDB could get up to around $5. The reason is because a penny that is 1909 VDB has 28 million pennies minted.
1909 VDB (Victor D. Brenner) About $5-30 depending on condition. 1909 S VDB: About $800-8000 depending on condition.
VDB stands for Victor D Brenner. He designed the wheat cent observe and reverse. The Observe is still in use today.
All Lincoln cents from 1918 to date have the initials VDB it stands for Victor D. Brenner the designer of the coin.
It was minted in the Denver mint
The "D" is the mint mark, it stands for the Denver Mint
1909 S VDB 1909 S 1914 D 1922 plain 1931 S 1943 Bronze 1955 Double Die Obverse
It means that the coin was made at the Denver mint.
Well, if it just says 1909 without a S, D, or VDB on it, then its probably around 5-20 cents. The reason for that is because there was 72.7 million pennies that was minted in 1909 (without S, D, or VDB mark) and pennies that are worth alot have around 0 to 2 million pennies minted in that year.
Well, if it just says 1909 without a S, D, or VDB on it, then its probably around 5-20 cents. The reason for that is because there was 72.7 million pennies that was minted in 1909 (without S, D, or VDB mark) and pennies that are worth alot have around 0 to 2 million pennies minted in that year.
The normal position for the VDB on all cents minted since 1918 is under Lincoln's bust, to the left edge of his coat. However some 1973 cents from Philadephia - no mint mark - were accidentally minted with no VDBThese pennies are worth $0.15 and up depending on condition. They are considered a mint error and collectible.The Denver and San-Fransisco (D & S) minted coins from 1973 all have the VDB under Lincoln's bust. There's more at www.collectorscorner.org/pocket.html