Lincoln Cents with “S” mint

??? Asking me?

 

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For a brief time (1965-1967), the Mint stopped placing mintmarks on coins and also stopped production of Proof Sets at Philadelphia as well as removing the silver from the dime and quarter and reducing the silver content of the Half to 40%. The experiment ended in 1968 when they resumed production of the Proofs at San Francisco and began using the Mitmarks at the branches again. The clad coins remained and soon even 40% halves went to clad.

Now just in case you're really new, the mintmarks were initially used to identify branch mint production at Denver (D) and San Francisco (S) while Philadelphia had no mint mark. Later, Philadelphia began using the P mintmark.

FYI Earlier Mints with mintmarks were Charlotte (C) Gold, Dahlenega (D) Gold and New Orleans (O) and later Carson City (CC).

 

The San Francisco Mint is mostly known in the very modern era for making special coins like commemoratives and Proof sets. There have been times when it has been pressed into serve to make business strike coins as well.

The San Francisco Mint opened in 1854 in the middle of gold country. The first mint was located in the offices of the old Moffat & Company site. It was a terrible place to work with workers inhaling acid fumes on a regular basis. The facility was remodeled and expanded. Here's my only coin from that early time.



This is the only affordable San Francisco Mint gold piece from 1854.

The San Francisco Mint moved to a much better facility in 1874. It came to be known affectionately as "The Grey Lady." It survived the 1906 San Francisco earthquake and provided much needed aid to the survivors of that catastrophe.

The “S Mint” moved to its present location in 1937. When I kid collector in 1960-2, finding old “S Mint” cents in circulation was wonderful event. The mint had closed in 1955, and fewer and fewer of its coins were in circulation. The mint became an assay office.

The mint started making coins against in 1965. These coins had no mint marks, which was the practice during the coin shortage of the mid 1960s. One of the mint's identifiable products was the Special Mint Sets from 1965 to '67. Mint marks were restored by Congress in 1967, but did not appear until 1968. Since then the “S Mint” has mostly made Proof sets and other special coins. It does get pressed in service to produce coins for circulation on occasion, but a lot of those coins go to collectors immediately.

 

Wow! Very interesting and beautiful! Thank you!

 

No mint marks on Lincoln cents for 1965-1966-1967. Mintmarks (except for Philadelphia) were resumed in 1968.

 

Yes the mintmarks came back early. Under the provisions that removed them the mintmarks were not supposed to return for five years (1970).

 

For the NEW collectors here welcome to coin talk I enjoy the questions and answers from these folks on here. For the new collectors it is best to get the book called " "United States Coins" AKA "The red book" great coin book for EVERYONE in the hobby.

 

Great explaination Marshal!! though you forgot one... (W) West Point.. Used to be it was just Medals and special issue coins.. now there are Ws in circulation

 

This 1908 S Indian Head Cent was the first "minor" coinage struck at a branch mint. Here is mine.

 

beautiful Indian

 

Are there any other cents (1908-09 IHC) with mint marks on the reverse?

 

I did mention OLD mints. West Point is the newest Mint as far as I know and didn't exist when I was young. It was a Military Academy and had a Bullion Reserve.

Since I'm an old man now and don't collect Modern made for collector sets, it's easy to forget.

 

where do I buy this red book?

 

I would love to put a photo on my profile but I don't know how too

 

Any major book chain, Amazon. They're around.

Click on your screen name then click on it in the new window, then click on your avatar. Should give you the option to upload a pic.
Trust me, if i can figure it out, anyone can do it.