1909-S 1C Indian, RB MS(PCGS#2239)

1909-S 1C Indian, RB MS (PCGS#2239)

Summer 2025 Global Showcase Auction U.S. Coins

Lot Description: Wisps of delicate gray-brown iridescence visit otherwise mint orange surfaces. This is a PQ coin in the Red and Brown category, and it is also an expertly preserved Gem with a silky smooth appearance to a soft satin texture. The second mintmarked cent in U.S. coinage history, the 1909-S boasts the lowest mintage in the Indian series with a mere 309,000 pieces produced. These coins were struck in January and February of that year, after which production was halted as the San Francisco Mint prepared to receive the first of the new Lincoln cent dies from Philadelphia. With contemporary numismatic and other interest focused on the new cent design, and especially the controversy surrounding the designer's initials V.D.B., the 1909-S Indian cent was largely overlooked by speculators. Even so, enough Mint State examples were set aside to meet current demand in lower grades. As a premium quality Gem, however, the present example is decidedly scarce from a condition standpoint and represents a significant find for the advanced collector.