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The lowest original mintage as this Indian Cent had just 309,000 produced in 1909 San Francisco. Scarcity begins in the lowest of grades and continues through Mint State. Brown coins are scarce with increasing value by grade and color. Red gems are incredibly desirable and rare.
Obverse Description
A portrait bearing the likeness of a Native American in full headdress framed by the words UNITED STATES OF AMERICA around the periphery. The date is centered at the bottom under the portrait.
Reverse Description
The reverse bears the denomination of ONE CENT in the center surrounded by a wreath bearing a ribbon with arrows tied in at the bottom center. The 'S' minmark is positioned at the bottom under the ribbon.
Book Reference
1909-S Cent Production: This is the lowest-mintage cent of the entire series. Its dies, produced in Philadelphia, were completely hubbed with the date incorporated. As a result, there are no positional variations for the date. The obverse dies always show slight weakness on the first feather tip. Collectors should rely on a full shield and bust point to confirm a full strike, as all 1909-S cents will show this feather-tip weakness. In fact, any 1909-S Mintmark example with full feather tips should be checked for an added mintmark. The mintmark is slightly larger than the one used for the new Lincoln design. Planchets tend to be a bit lighter than their Philadelphia Mint counterparts. They tend to be a strawgolden color.
Survivability: These coins were saved as the last of their issue. Non-collectors saved them as the last of the design, and numismatists pulled them quickly from circulation due to their known low mintage. The rarity is much lower than the low-mintage coins of earlier years because of this higher survival rate.
This date is very rare in low grades, so prices for grades below Very Fine tend to be very similar. Most examples grade Very Fine to About Uncirculated. In Mint State, the coins are fairly scarce. Full red examples are very diffcult to locate.
Collecting Challenges: Avoid problem pieces. Don’t expect to find any bargainpriced examples unless the coins are cleaned or have had some other indignity performed on them.
Collecting Circulated Pieces: The optimal collecting grade for circulated coins is EF-40. Overgrading is a problem because dealers believe there is not a big enough spread between grades to make their profit margin. I argue that the ease of selling these at present levels should equate to lower margins.
Collecting Mint State Pieces: The optimal collecting grade for Mint State coins is MS-64RB. The certified populations on this date are similar in most grades to many of the semi-common dates. This may be the case, but most 1909-S cents are submitted for certification and the more common dates of Indian Head cents are often not submitted. The 1909-S is a very popular cent and should be compared to another coin of similar mintage that is usually always submitted for certification, the 1909-S V.D.B. Lincoln cent. In MS-65RB and MS-65RD, the number of 1909-S V.D.B. coins graded by ANACS, NGC, and PCGS is ten times what is shown for the 1909-S Indian Head cent.
Counterfeits: Many counterfeits exist for this coin. Some are false-die counterfeits. These tend to have very sharp, flat edges, whereas the genuine 1909-S issue has a beveled edge. Most numerous are Philadelphia Mint 1909 cents with an added mintmark. These will usually have a very sharp first feather tip. Since all authentic 1909-S coins have a slight weakness on this point, a sharp feather tip might give away a suspicious offering. Certification and a written bill of sale from a reputable dealer will greatly decrease your chance of purchasing a counterfeit.
For more on counterfeit and altered cents, see appendix D.
VARIETIES:
No varieties are known for the 1909-S cent.
Catalog Information
GSID:
1464
Designer:
James B. Longacre
Obverse Designer:
James B. Longacre
Obverse Lettering:
UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, 1909
Reverse Designer:
James B. Longacre
Reverse Lettering:
ONE CENT, S
Weight (gr):
3.11 gr
Weight (oz):
0.11 oz
Strike Type:
Business
Diameter:
19
Coin Shape:
Round
Edge:
Plain
Variety:
Indian
Coin Date:
1909-S
Denomination:
1c
Designation:
MS
Mint Location:
San Francisco
Mint Mark:
S
Mintage:
309,000
Coinage Type:
Indian Head Cent
Coinage Years:
1864-1909
Composition:
95% copper; 5% zinc & tin
PCGS #:
2238
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Coin Value History
1909-S 1c Indian MS BN
Value By Grade
1909-S 1c Indian MS BN
CPG (retail) values
Currency
Grade Range
Grading Authority
Sort by
Pricing
Values
Greysheet & CPG® Values
| Grade | CAC | CPG Value (Retail) | Greysheet Price (Wholesale) |
|---|---|---|---|
| MS65 |
|
$3,300 | $1,234 |
| MS65 | - | $2,750 | $1,234 |
| MS64 |
|
$1,234 | $1,234 |
| MS64 | - | $1,234 | $1,234 |
| MS63 |
|
$1,234 | $1,234 |
| MS63 | - | $1,234 | $1,234 |
| MS62 |
|
$1,234 | $1,234 |
| MS62 | - | $1,234 | $1,234 |
| MS61 |
|
$1,234 | $1,234 |
| MS61 | - | $1,234 | $1,234 |
| MS60 |
|
$1,234 | $1,234 |
| MS60 | - | $1,234 | $1,234 |
| AU58 |
|
$1,234 | $1,234 |
| AU58 | - | $1,234 | $1,234 |
| AU55 |
|
$1,234 | $1,234 |
| AU55 | - | $1,234 | $1,234 |
| AU53 |
|
$1,234 | $1,234 |
| AU53 | - | $1,234 | $1,234 |
| AU50 |
|
$1,234 | $1,234 |
| AU50 | - | $1,234 | $1,234 |
| XF45 |
|
$1,234 | $1,234 |
| XF45 | - | $1,234 | $1,234 |
| XF40 |
|
$1,234 | $1,234 |
| XF40 | - | $1,234 | $1,234 |
| VF35 |
|
$1,234 | $1,234 |
| VF35 | - | $1,234 | $1,234 |
| VF30 |
|
$1,234 | $1,234 |
| VF30 | - | $1,234 | $1,234 |
| VF25 |
|
$1,234 | $1,234 |
| VF25 | - | $1,234 | $1,234 |
| VF20 |
|
$1,234 | $1,234 |
| VF20 | - | $1,234 | $1,234 |
| F15 |
|
$1,234 | $1,234 |
| F15 | - | $1,234 | $1,234 |
| F12 |
|
$1,234 | $1,234 |
| F12 | - | $1,234 | $1,234 |
| VG10 |
|
$1,234 | $1,234 |
| VG10 | - | $1,234 | $1,234 |
| VG8 |
|
$1,234 | $1,234 |
| VG8 | - | $1,234 | $1,234 |
| G6 |
|
$1,234 | $1,234 |
| G6 | - | $1,234 | $1,234 |
| G4 |
|
$1,234 | $1,234 |
| G4 | - | $1,234 | $1,234 |
| AG3 |
|
$1,234 | $1,234 |
| AG3 | - | $1,234 | $1,234 |
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Worth: $6 – $18,000
1860 1c Pointed Bust MS
Worth: $7 – $28,800
1861 1c MS
Worth: $14 – $72,000
1862 1c MS
Worth: $6 – $72,000
1863 1c MS
Worth: $6 – $18,750
1864 1c Copper Nickel MS
Worth: $14 – $20,000
Indian Head Cent 1c Bronze, 1864-1909 MS BN [Type]
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Worth: $1 – $1,688
Indian Head Cent 1c Bronze, 1864-1909 MS RB [Type]
![Indian Head Cent 1c Bronze, 1864-1909 MS RB [Type]](https://images.greysheet.com/Ctc/Catalog/20250811/m7z2wm7kefb0wx6umy1d.webp?MaxWidth=200&Mode=Pad&Scale=UpscaleCanvas&format=webp)
Worth: $44 – $2,000
Indian Head Cent 1c Bronze, 1864-1909 MS RD [Type]
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Worth: $110 – $120,000
1864 1c Bronze MS BN
Worth: $10 – $625
1864 1c Bronze MS RB
Worth: $160 – $11,500
1864 1c Bronze MS RD
Worth: $300 – $18,000
1909-S 1C Indian VF20 PCGS. CDN: $350 Whsle. Bid for NGC/PCGS VF20. Mintage 309,000....
$415
1909-S 1C Indian XF45 PCGS. CDN: $525 Whsle. Bid for NGC/PCGS XF45. Mintage 309,000. ...
$586
1909-S 1C Indian AU55 PCGS. CDN: $775 Whsle. Bid for NGC/PCGS AU55. Mintage 309,000. ...
$1,129
1909-S 1C Indian -- Rim Damaged -- ANACS . Fine Details. Net VG8. Housed in a small-sized holder. Mintage 309,000....
$293
1909-S 1C MS63 Brown PCGS. CDN: $1,300 Whsle. Bid for NGC/PCGS MS63. Mintage 309,000. ...
$1,403
1909-S 1C XF40 Brown NGC. CDN: $490 Whsle. Bid for NGC/PCGS XF40. Mintage 309,000. ...
$500
1909-S 1C Indian VG8 CACG. Mintage 309,000....
$348
1909-S 1C Indian AU50 PCGS. CDN: $600 Whsle. Bid for NGC/PCGS AU50. Mintage 309,000....
$720
1909-S 1C Indian -- Corroded -- ANACS Details. VF30. Mintage 309,000....
$336
1909-S 1C Indian Fine 15 PCGS. Mintage 309,000....
$360
1909-S 1C -- Corroded -- ANACS. VF25 Details. Mintage 309,000....
$288
1909-S 1C Indian VG10 PCGS. Mintage 309,000....
$324
1909-S 1C AU58 Brown NGC. CAC. CAC Population: (42/96). Mintage 309,000....
$1,140
1909-S 1C Indian VF35 PCGS. Mintage 309,000....
$420
1909-S 1C MS64 Brown PCGS. Eagle Eye Photo Seal. PCGS Population: (107/23). NGC Census: (82/26). CDN: $1,500 Whsle. Bid for...
$1,680
1909-S 1C Indian MS62 Brown PCGS. PCGS Population: (92/278). Mintage 309,000....
$1,260
1909-S 1C Indian AU53 PCGS. Mintage 309,000....
$690
1909-S 1C MS65 Brown NGC. CAC. NGC Census: (25/0). PCGS Population: (20/1). CDN: $1,900 Whsle. Bid for NGC/PCGS MS65. Minta...
$2,400
1909-S 1C MS61 Brown NGC. NGC Census: (38/282). PCGS Population: (2/340). CDN: $875 Whsle. Bid for NGC/PCGS MS61. Mintage 3...
$960
1909-S 1C -- Flattened -- ANACS. Good 4 Details. Mintage 309,000....
$168
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