The E-Sylum:  Volume 7, Number 28, July 11, 2004, Article 10

2009 CENT IDEAS FLOW

  Dick Johnson writes: "Gary Dunaier had the greatest idea for
  the 2009 Lincoln Cent!  Return to those days of yesteryear
  with the original Wheat Reverse by VDB.  Use Victor Brenner's
  original galvano pattern dieshell!  The one in which his full name
  is signed on the lower reverse, not just the VDB initials.

  This dieshell still exists in the Philadelphia Mint die vaults. I
  held it in my hand in 1972 (centennial year Brenner's birth)
  when a group of Brenner fans held a centennial exhibit of
  Brenner's coins and medals at the Chase Bank Money Museum
  then in New York City's Rockefeller Center.  We asked Mint
  Director Eva Adams if she could send something for this
  exhibit.  She did!  She sent Frank Gasparro the original
  Brenner cent plaster models and the original copper galvano
  dieshells for both obverse and reverse made from those
  plaster models!

  Frank was most gracious. Before he let us put the items
  behind the wall of glass in the exhibit room he allowed each
  of us to have our photos taken with him, the original models
  and dieshells. Then he signed autographs all day long for the
  public. Certainly a highpoint of my life.

  Unfortunately Frank had to return them to the Mint vaults after
  this one-day Saturday showing. (The exhibit continued for
  several more weeks however.)  But Frank told us this was the
  first time the models and dieshells had been outside of Mint
  vaults since the 1910 Exhibition of the Contemporary Medal,
  also in New York City, at the American Numismatic Society.

  I also would like to see Brenner's reverse with his name signed
  in full in script like on the original model for the 2009 Cent.
  Great Idea, Gary!  Can we carry your idea one step further?
  Can only 484,000 be struck at San Francisco -- with "S"
  mintmark obviously -- this was, of course, the original 1909
  mintage.  And 27,995,000 struck at Philadelphia.  And
  unlimited striking at the Denver Mint (since it didn't strike any
  cents until 1911).

  If someone at the U.S. Mint is reading this, would you kindly
  reserve front-row seats at the Philadelphia Mint  First-Strike
  Lincoln Cent Centennial Ceremony for Gary and me?"

  [This could be fun if the Mint has any imagination. -Editor]

  Wayne Homren, Editor

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