Optical Studies of the Low Velocity Gradient Type Ia Supernovae 2009an and 2009ig

UBVRI photometry and medium resolution spectroscopy of two Type Ia supernovae, SN 2009an and SN 2009ig, are presented. Their Δm₁₅(B) indicate these two SNe marginally deviate from ``normal'' Type Ia events. Spectroscopically, both SNe belong to the low velocity gradient group. The estimated mass of ⁵⁶Ni ejected is almost a factor of two different for these two objects, with the estimates being ~0.4M_⊙ for SN 2009an and ~0.8 M_⊙ for SN 2009ig.