The 1909 VDB cent is the first entry in the long-running Lincoln series. The 1909 VDB cent, prominently portraying the initials of the coin's sculptor-engraver Victor David Brenner, was produced for a few weeks at the Philadelphia Mint before production of the coin was temporarily halted. Public outcry on the prominence of Brenner's VDB initials on the reverse of the coin under the wheat stalks prompted officials with the US Mint to remove the offending letters. Brenner's VDB initials weren't restored to the coin until 1918, when they were placed in tiny script under Lincoln's shoulder on the obverse.

While 1909 VDB pennies were made in fewer numbers than their same-year non-VDB counterparts, the Philadelphia coins are not numismatically scarce. There are ample specimens on the marketplace in RD up through the Gem grades, thanks to the coin being widely hoarded after its release. Thus, even high-end RD uncirculated examples aren't challenging to find at least through MS66, though they are scarce in MS67RD and in MS68RD are extremely rare.