Russian-born American sculptor (1871–1924) best known as the designer of the Lincoln cent. Rare ALS signed “Victor Brenner,” one page, 5.5 x 8.25, personal letterhead, August 20, 1909. Letter to an unidentified gentleman. In part: “I was extremely touched by the kind interest you are taking on behalf of the elision of my initials of the Lincoln cent. Almost all foreign coins bear the full name of the artist, and as you express it, it is of historical value to the student of archeology as well as of art. I shall be indebted to you for bringing this matter to the notice of the various societies.” In fine condition, with a slightly irregulaly-trimmed lower edge.
According to an article published by coin expert and Author Ed Reiter, few men are so prominent that people routinely refer to and recognize them by their initials. Even among United States presidents, the list has been exceedingly small: FDR, JFK, LBJ. In the coin collecting hobby, there is only one set of initials that are readily recognizable: VDB, short for Victor David Brenner, the artist who designed the Lincoln cent. What makes these initials famous is the fact that they appear on the rarest of all Lincoln cents. Indeed, it was these initials that made the 1909-S VDB Lincoln cent so scarce. The very first Lincoln cents carried Brenner's initials in large, conspicuous letters at the base of the reverse, but public outcry arose almost at once that this outsized "signature" was not only disproportionately large but also inappropriate simply as a matter of principle. The US Mint removed the letters soon after the start of production, with a mere 484,000 pieces having been struck with the initials at the San Francisco Mint. The "S-VDB" has been a highly sought after rarity ever since.
No one knew at the time Brenner sent this letter, of course, but in 1918, Brenner received a small measure of vindication as his initials were restored, though in much smaller letters, at the base of Lincoln's shoulder on the obverse of the coin. Not only a numismatic rarity, but an autographic one as well…and this example has excellent association! Pre-certified PSA/DNA and RRAuction COA.
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