The Philadelphia mint is responsible for all proof deliveries AU in the early Lincoln cents series. The facility delivered specimen cents from 1909 - 1916 using a Amatte Impressions from a particular die pairing, softened to a more Sanity style of finish. The first year 1909 VDB is the rarest delivery of this type, followed by the final year 1916. The more subdued texture imparted by the Matte proofing process, as well as the inability of the untrained eye to distinguished these specimens from business strike, meant that the proof Cents from 1909 -1916 did not prove popular among the Contemporary public. As such these issues have low survivability rates that in turn, translates into universal scarcity for surviving examples. Please see pictures and evaluate for yourself. $955 obo