I just want to be sure I have my thinking straight on this......I know a lot of S mint marks on coins are Proof Coins. But on Business Strike coins does the S mint mark carry any premium? For instance, if I found a 1962 S Lincoln cent.......it wouldn't be a premium over any other P or D 1962. Correct? I know some people collect S marked coins because they like them, and I know the SF mint didn't do as many business strikes as the other mints......so should I make room for them in my collection when I find them?
Hang on, I think that one is, yea they did not make any San Francisco lincolns from 1956 to 67. that im aware of, but it depends on the coin, condition, but I keep them. its only a cent so it does not cost me anything to keep them. unless I hoard thousands and decide to move, Ill just sell a bag of them. may get face value or a little more. also there is a lot of modern coins that are S mintmark that are not proof, and also not distributed for circulation. So it depends on what coin and all.
Found a 1972 s Lincoln cent with a little scrape on his shoulder, but I guess I’ll keep it. It’s the only s I’ve found here on the right coast.
As a young collector in the 50's, s mints were always harder to find since the mintages were smaller. From the mint... San Francisco and West Point Mint Marks Special 2019 “W” Lincoln Penny Proof Obverse Use of the “S” and “W” mint marks was sporadic because of changing conditions. The “S” Mint mark was used on San Francisco coins until 1975, although production in San Francisco was suspended between 1955 and 1965. San Francisco made cents for circulation from 1968 through 1974, nickels from 1968 through 1970, and dimes in 1975. Circulating cents were manufactured in the early 1980s at San Francisco and the West Point Bullion Depository, but no mint marks were used, assuring maximum circulation of this small production. Special Mint sets were produced for collectors at San Francisco from 1965 through 1967, but no mint marks were used because of then-current restrictions. In 1968, proof coin production was moved from Philadelphia to San Francisco, where the proof coins gained the “S” mark. Proofs subsequently made at West Point carry the “W” mint mark.
It seems they only made a handful of no-S dimes in 1975 https://www.pcgs.com/top100/coin2 Only two are known. One sold for $349,000 at the 2011 ANA sale.
The San Francisco mint made a little over 71 million business strike dimes in 1975 without mintmarks.
The Frisco mint helped to supplement Phillies business strike mintage a few times. What happened when the "no s" dimes were minted .... Was San Fran used Phillies die on accident to make their own proofs. The dimes from Philly in 75 had no MM right?
Just having an S mintmark on a coin does not bring any premium. Add in the condition, date and mintage figures and you may have something.
