Artist. He was the designer of the United States one-cent coin, popularly known as the "Lincoln Cent" for its depiction of the profile of 16th United States President Abraham Lincoln. It has become the most widely reproduced work of art in America, with billions having been minted since production began in 1909. Victor Brenner produced over 125 different medals, badges and plaques during his career, as well as producing sculptures such as the "Song of Nature", located in Schenely Park in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. In 1907 Brenner was commissioned to produce a plaque bearing the image of President Lincoln, and in 1908 was commissioned to design the Panama Canal service medal bearing the image of President Theodore Roosevelt. While posing in Brenner's studio for the latter, President Roosevelt greatly admired Brenner's Lincoln plaque creation. He pushed past normal government bureaucracy to help get Brenner's design approved for a new cent coin to commemorate the 100th anniversary of Lincoln's birth (1909). Jealous mint officials objected to the inclusion of Brenner's initials "V.D.B." on the bottom of the reverse, but not before 27 million had been minted at the Philadelphia Mint, and just a scant 484,000 at the San Francisco Mint. Thus the 1909-S VDB cent is one of the most popular and publicized rarities in coin collecting history. Brenner's initials were thereby removed, but were restored in 1918, incused in the bottom left slant edge of Lincoln's coat.
Artist. He was the designer of the United States one-cent coin, popularly known as the "Lincoln Cent" for its depiction of the profile of 16th United States President Abraham Lincoln. It has become the most widely reproduced work of art in America, with billions having been minted since production began in 1909. Victor Brenner produced over 125 different medals, badges and plaques during his career, as well as producing sculptures such as the "Song of Nature", located in Schenely Park in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. In 1907 Brenner was commissioned to produce a plaque bearing the image of President Lincoln, and in 1908 was commissioned to design the Panama Canal service medal bearing the image of President Theodore Roosevelt. While posing in Brenner's studio for the latter, President Roosevelt greatly admired Brenner's Lincoln plaque creation. He pushed past normal government bureaucracy to help get Brenner's design approved for a new cent coin to commemorate the 100th anniversary of Lincoln's birth (1909). Jealous mint officials objected to the inclusion of Brenner's initials "V.D.B." on the bottom of the reverse, but not before 27 million had been minted at the Philadelphia Mint, and just a scant 484,000 at the San Francisco Mint. Thus the 1909-S VDB cent is one of the most popular and publicized rarities in coin collecting history. Brenner's initials were thereby removed, but were restored in 1918, incused in the bottom left slant edge of Lincoln's coat.
Bio by: Frank Passic, Albion Historian
Inscription
VICTOR D. BRENNER
IN MEMORY OF
OUR GREATLY GIFTED
AND DEARLY BELOVED
VICTOR
BORN JUNE 2, 1871
DIED APRIL 5, 1924
Family Members
Parents
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See more Brenner memorials in:
Records on Ancestry
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New York, New York, U.S., Index to Death Certificates, 1862-1948
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U.S., Newspapers.com™ Obituary Index, 1800s-current
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New York, New York, U.S., Extracted Marriage Index, 1866-1937
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New York, New York, U.S., Marriage License Indexes, 1907-2018
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U.S., Passport Applications, 1795-1925
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