The 1911-S Lincoln Cent MS66RD is the Professional Grading Service’s (PCGS) Coin of the Month.
Lincoln cent enthusiasts can readily reel off the “Big Four” key dates while sleeping… 1909-S, 1909-S VDB, 1914-D, and 1931-S. But many Lincoln penny collectors contend there’s a fifth key date, and we’re not talking about varieties such as the 1922 plain or 1955 doubled die. Rather, there’s the 1911-S Lincoln cent, a regular-issue scarcity from the early part of the series run hailing from the San Francisco Mint — a place that made many of the series semi-keys.
The 1911-S Lincoln cent no doubt holds its own among semi-keys, but this coin is quite unlike the other semi-key dates. The 1911-S Lincoln cent has a mintage of only 4,026,000, which is lower than all other S-mint dates in the series except for the 1909-S, 1909-S VDB, and 1931-S. Furthermore, it’s also the most expensive date in a circulated condition beyond the four rare regular issues.
Finding an example in nice condition with a strong strike is tougher than many might assume. That’s just one reason why a tied-for-finest 1911-S Lincoln Cent graded MS66RD by Professional Coin Grading Service took an astounding $19,200 at a June 2021 Heritage Auctions event. This coin, with a population of just two, boasts outstanding Red surfaces, and needlepoint strike, and has peerless eye appeal.
*Images courtesy of Heritage Auctions, www.HA.com. To subscribe to COINage magazine click here.
