![]() ![]() But he soon found a job as an engraver, and during the years that followed he sharpened his talent by attending evening classes at Cooper Union. While still in his teens, he left for America, arriving almost penniless in New York City in 1890. His father, a metal worker, was skilled at carving and engraving – and young Victor demonstrated similar gifts at an early age. In a booklet entitled “The Works of Victor David Brenner,” Smedley pointed out that the man who designed the all-American Lincoln cent was not an American by birth.īrenner was born of Jewish parents on June 12, 1871, in Shavli, Lithuania, a small town near the Baltic Sea. Smedley greatly admired Brenner’s work, and over the years he not only formed an important collection of items designed by the artist, but also wrote extensively on the subject. Smedley, a prominent numismatist who served for many years on the board of governors of the American Numismatic Association. The Brenner material in that auction came from the collection of the late Glenn S. And if his name appears prominently on the medal or plaquette, then you have a REALLY saleable piece.” If the piece has a Lincoln motif, the price goes up another 40 percent. “A medal by Brenner,” he said, “will bring perhaps 30 percent more than a medal by someone else without a coinage connection – just because Brenner designed the Lincoln cent. Hodder, then director of research for the Wolfeboro, N.H., company. “Items designed by Brenner are quite popular with collectors,” said well-known numismatic cataloger and scholar Michael J. They attracted strong interest and drew impressive prices. This was dramatized two decades ago when a group of Brenner medals, plaquettes and related materials came up for sale at a New York City auction conducted by Bowers and Merena Galleries. ![]() Brenner, his name, in turn, has enhanced the appeal of other numismatic collectibles, as well. And it’s interesting to note that while the coin has given lasting fame to Victor D. In 2009, the hobby is observing the 100th anniversary of this venerable and perennially popular coin. The “S-VDB” has been a highly sought after rarity ever since. Mint removed the offending letters soon after the start of production – after a mere 484,000 pieces had been struck with the initials at the San Francisco Mint. Outcry arose almost at once that this outsized “signature” was not only disproportionately large but also inappropriate simply as a matter of principle. coin designs for much of the latter half of the 19th century. ![]() Longacre, whose initials “JBL” (or simply “L”) graced a number of U.S. The very first Lincoln cents carried Brenner’s initials in large, conspicuous letters at the base of the reverse between the wheat ear stalks, following the precedent set by James B. The holy grail of the numismatic realm: The 1909-S VDB Lincoln cent. What makes these initials famous is the fact that they appear on the rarest of all the Lincolns. The initials are “VDB” and they stand for the name of Victor David Brenner, the artist who designed the Lincoln penny. In the world of coin collecting, one set of initials is far more familiar – and readily recognizable – than all others. As famed coin expert, Ed Reiter, points out – Few men are so prominent that people routinely refer to them – and recognize them instantly – by their initials: FDR… JFK… LBJ… MLK. ![]()
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