The E-Sylum:  Volume 10, Number 26, July 1, 2007, Article 21

VDB?  I HADN'T HEARD THAT FOR DECADES

Dick Johnson writes: "Man gets cent in change, dated 1917. Man tells
brother about cent. Brother asks if he has a VDB. 'VDB? I hadn't heard
that for decades.'

"Funny, once you have collected coins in America you never forget those
initials. And we all remember that monogram and who the initials identity.
The lore of the story of Brenner's signature being ripped off the cent in
1909 reverberates from the 9-year-old who first collects coins to the
seasoned numismatist who long since advanced to other series and coins
to collect.

"Treasury officials who ordered the initials removed from the reverse
of the 1909 cent unknowingly cemented Brenner's fame. (His original
model had "Brenner" in script on bottom reverse; the famed initials were
a replacement to that.) I have studied American sculptors and medallists.
Brenner's work, while prodigious as a medallist, was not that top drawer
as a sculptor. Yet he is included in most every list I have found of
American sculptors. Included, perhaps, because of the story of that
one unthinking act of removing an artist's signature.

"And the reply to the brother's question:  "Any boy worth his salt 40
or 50 years ago would recognize those initials." And they still do.

"Here's a charming story by news editor Richard Lodge for the Waltham,
Mass, Daily News Tribune. It will trigger memories perhaps of your own
early days finding an unusual cent in circulation:
Full Story "

  Wayne Homren, Editor

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