Super Newbie Question, S mint

[lara4228]

lol, I've been on here awhile and am not ashamed of posting in this here section!

S Mint.

Why is this one mint mark desired so much by collectors?

Why do I read from time to time that if you find an S mm you hold onto it?

Lara

[jcuve]

Typically the San Francisco Mint had lower production numbers (not always, but frequently) and also the proofs started being solely minted there, another rare find in change.

[lara4228]

how would one know what is a proof and what isn't?

[jcuve]

Proofs look different. Polished surfaces, flat uniform rims - they will tone differently. Once in a while one is found in change. But really it is the earlier years on coin where typically the S versions have lower mintages and are highly coveted.

[lara4228]

so lower years meaning...70's 60's 50's 40's 30's ,etc.?

Does anyone have a pic of a proof coin? Just for the curious ey?

[jcuve]

I can take one later for you...

[eaxtellcoin]

Lara, Here is a pic of a 68-S Proof and a 68-S buisness strike. Hope they help... Eric :D

[coinman2009]

Also no business strikes W/ s mint made between 1956-1968, Although rumored some were made in 64 w/ no s, Also rumored less strikes per die set at San Francisco, Meaning Nicer Coin's! A Good Question! Nice To Keep Us Thinking! Enjoy!:angel:

[lara4228]

Coinman2009, that is my job! And believe me, even as I learn and grow to understand as much about these coins as you all do, I will still find some sort of stupid question to ask :P

[lara4228]

Lara, Here is a pic of a 68-S Proof and a 68-S buisness strike. Hope they help... Eric :D

Wow there is quite a visible difference between the 2. You can see, well I can anyway, a difference is craftsmanship between the 2 strikes.

[koinmon]

The "S" mint coins have always had a certain Aura to me as an older Eastern USA collector; finding few in roll searching, buying what was needed at coin shows and shops. And most of all always desireing the 1909S-VDB but never willing to fork out the big bucks to aquire it.
George

[Roller]

I think its the "S"; it is a mysterious letter. There's something magical about that open "8" or infinity symbol.

[jcuve]

Here, a comparison between a 1969-S business strike and a proof:

http://i732.photobucket.com/albums/ww322/jcuve/1969S-proof-vs-business.jpg

[hasfam]

I used to get excited when I came across S mint coins, but not anymore and not for a long time. Not unless the S is on the right date.

[atarian]

interesting pictures. I never looked at the 68-74S for any difference in strikes. Perhaps i should . Just another thing to keep me up late at night.

[lara4228]

Great information everyone and awesome pics to see the difference.

Thank you all. I will call this post answered, but that doesn't mean people can't still put in their 2 centS in! ha ha ha...ok bad joke.

Again thank you each and every one of you.

[BadThad]

Most of the S mint hysteria came about after the 1909, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15-S coins. At the time, people didn't realize these were pretty low mintage, key/semi-key dates so they were somewhat ignored. In time, people came to realize they were more valuable than the other cents. That started the general saving of S mint cents....essentially greed. Even the other S mints up though the 20's commanded a premium because of lower mintages. Once the mint stopped producing S mint coins, the hype really grew when they returned in 1968 people hoarded them by the roll. Most didn't even know why they were saving them other than "somebody told me they're worth something". This continued though 1974, many rolls were hoarded.

Eventually, people realized that rolls of the 1968-S and up were not going to be worth hundreds or thousands of dollars, they started getting released from the clutches of speculators. This ended up being a good thing for collectors as even today we can find rolls of the last S mint business coins for just a few bucks.

[copperlover]

I am headed downtown to buy proof lincolns @ .35 cents each. These are all gem coins. I will select the years. What years would you all select.


Lucien

[AstroRaider]

Last year, one of the threads suggested that we keep all the "S" mintmarks from 1968 through 1974. So, since then I have accumulated about 5 rolls of the things. Do they really have any value?

[jfines69]

Last year, one of the threads suggested that we keep all the "S" mintmarks from 1968 through 1974. So, since then I have accumulated about 5 rolls of the things. Do they really have any value?
I believe that would be about $2.50... LOL... I think most collectors value the S mm more than the others... As to the reason I do not know... Could be because not as many were struck!!!