Hi! I began collecting in June after a 1920 happen across my path. Since June I have found many S mint coins. 1-1954 S, 1 1955 S, 6-1969 S, 6-1970 S, 4-1971 S, 3-1972 S, 1-1973 S, and 4-1974 S. Admittedly I am an intentional picker, yet how common are S minted coins out there? And how common is the 1969 S. I went the Boston Coin show recently (the large one) and inquired of a more knowledgeable dealer about the 1969 S. His very quick response to me was that its no longer really a collectable as there are so many out there and did not look at what I had. Maybe he was just tired. But wow what a great show that was! So I have also noticed that dimes have what seems to me to be extra medal...? I have come across so many dimes with excess medal on the eyebrow or corner lip area of Roosevelt. Looks like he's got crumbs on the corner of his lip, lol. Could anyone please tell my why this is? Is this considered errors? Often I notice excessive on the reverse aslo and what look to be double die on the reverse design. But Im still training eyes to tell the difference between double die, strike, etc. Thank you all for your help! Have a great weekend!
Mintage for 1969-S = 544,375,000. Inclusive in this number is the 1969-S Double Die. With respect to cents, San Francisco minted coins (S) are typically produced in numbers less than Philadelphia or Denver (D). As per modern dimes, not my focal area. I'm sure someone else on this forum can assist with your enquiry. Note that the information I just provided can be found in Whitman's A Guide Book of United States Coins 2011, R.S. Yeoman, (c)2010 - - AKA - - "The Red Book". I strongly recommend acquiring a copy of this book if you wish to proceed with collecting coins. It can be acquired in many places for well under $20 US.
Thank you so much for your quick response. Yes, I have ordered US Coins book 2011. The one I do have already is the Cherrypickers Guide and find myself referencing it often. Thank you again. Boy I like this forum.
Hi Cherry My specialty is UK coins, but I do know that as far as Lincoln cents go, the "S" mintmark ones were produced for cirulation until 1974. Since then, the "S" mintmark coins (of Lincolns and all other denominations) are proof only. Various sites (as well as the Red Book) can give you mintages. For example, here are the mintages for 1968-1976, showing that 1974 was the last such business strike for the "S": 1968 P 1,707,880,970 1968 D 2,886,269,600 1968 S 261,311,510 1969 P 1,136,910,000 1969 D 4,002,832,200 1969 S 547,309,631 1970 P 1,898,315,000 1970 D 2,891,438,900 1970 S 693,192,814 1971 P 1,919,490,000 1971 D 2,911,045,600 1971 S 528,354,192 1972 P 2,933,255,000 1972 D 2,665,071,400 1972 S 380,200,104 1973 P 3,728,245,000 1973 D 3,549,576,588 1973 S 319,937,634 1974 P 4,232,140,523 1974 D 4,235,098,000 1974 S 412,039,228 1975 P 5,451,476,142 1975 D 4,505,245,300 1976 P 4,674,292,426 1976 D 4,221,592,455 (taken from this site) Hope that helps!
Hi Andy Wow UK thats great! Thank you so much for your info I have a couple books on order (including the Red book) which I know will be helpful to me too. But Im grateful for your knowledgable and quick response. Have a geat day or night??
Welcome to the hobby! I personally hoard all the S-minted cents I find. Even though they're not even remotely rare, I enjoy getting looking for varieties in them.
Thank you lincolncent I am enjoying this hobby very much. I too have found myself hoarding all the S minted cents as I too enjoy their varieties. Yet I've also found myself hoarding the weats as well, lol. Have a great day!
Hoarding is great. That said, I don't know if you've explored ebay yet. If/when you do, you'll see a lot of auctions for "Unsearched" rolls. Don't be tempted, there's no such thing.
In the midwest all of the S mints are scarce when roll hunting. the 1973-S (2nd lowest mintage) is very rare to find in any condition. The 1969-S is almost non-existant, it's the 6th lowest cent mintage. BU rolls and coins were widely hoarded so there's plenty of them out there....the dealer is right about that. What he DOESN'T realize is that the vast majority of these coins have not been stored properly. Also, most of them are MS-63 and below. Toss in attrition and this eliminates most of the 69-S coins as being "collectible". There's fewer high grade examples out there then most people realize, it's a shame the series is so neglected. There's only a few dealers at shows that even bother with them, but they are out there.
Here's a list of the lowest mintages in order for you: 1968 S 261,311,510 1973 S 319,937,634 1972 S 380,200,104 1974 S 412,039,228 1971 S 528,354,192 1969 S 547,309,631 1960 P 588,096,602 1962 P 609,263,019 1959 P 610,864,291 1970 S 693,192,814 1961 P 756,373,244 1963 P 757,185,645 1969 P 1,136,910,000 1959 D 1,279,760,000 1965 P 1,497,224,900 1960 D 1,580,884,000 1968 P 1,707,880,970 1961 D 1,753,266,700 1963 D 1,774,020,400 1962 D 1,793,148,400 1970 P 1,898,315,000 1971 P 1,919,490,000 1966 P 2,188,147,783 1964 P 2,652,525,762 1972 D 2,665,071,400 1968 D 2,886,269,600 1970 D 2,891,438,900 1971 D 2,911,045,600 1972 P 2,933,255,000 1967 P 3,048,667,100 2002 P 3,260,800,000 2003 P 3,300,000,000 2004 P 3,379,600,000 2004 D 3,456,400,000 2003 D 3,548,000,000 1973 D 3,549,576,588
@cherrypickermom - here's a small booklet that you might find of interest. I haven't actually perused it myself, but it looks like it's a fair deal. I have purchased from this vendor before. http://cgi.ebay.com/COINAGE-UNITED-STATES-BRANCH-MINTS-/310218676041?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item483a795749
