1908-S Indian Head Cent

AI-generated illustration — not a photograph of a genuine coin.

The first cent struck at San Francisco: 1,115,000 minted — a historic low-mintage semi-key (PCGS).

History

The 1908-S made history as the first U.S. cent produced outside of the Philadelphia Mint for general circulation and the first minor coinage issue struck in San Francisco, made possible by a change in law; production of the 1,115,000 cents commenced in November 1908. (PCGS, accessed 2026-09-16)
With a mintage of 1,115,000 — one of the lowest in the Indian Head series — it is a semi-key; the 1909-S, at approximately one-quarter the mintage, is the key San Francisco Indian Head cent. (PCGS; Heritage, accessed 2026-09-16)
Specifications are standard bronze: 95% copper with 5% tin and zinc, 3.11 g, 19 mm, plain edge, designed by James B. Longacre. (Heritage; APMEX, accessed 2026-09-16)
The S mintmark sits below the wreath on the reverse. (Numismatic News, accessed 2026-09-16)

First-year San Francisco cent: a historic first-issue for the branch mint.
Semi-key, not the undisputed series key — the 1909-S carries the key-date premium.
San Francisco mated six obverse dies with five reverses for this issue (Heritage).

KEY DIAGNOSTIC MARKERS: S mintmark below the wreath on the reverse; San Francisco struck only the 1908-S and 1909-S Indian cents, so any other date with an S is wrong; bronze weight 3.11 g.
Value factors: grade and original color designation — fully red (RD) examples are rare and carry steep premiums over red-brown (RB) and brown (BN); well-preserved mint state examples are the norm while problem-free circulated pieces are scarce (PCGS).