Longacre's Daughter in a Native American Headdress
1908-S
View Image Gallery >
Coin Details
| Origin/Country: |
United States |
| Design Description: |
CENTS - INDIAN HEAD |
| Item Description: |
1C 1908 S |
| Full Grade: |
PCGS MS 63 RB |
| Owner: |
JTO |
Owner Comments:
Beautiful classic wood grain appearance. This was the first cent (or non precious, silver/gold coin to be struck at a Branch Mint (outside Philadelphia). There were problems with the process of making the alloy of bronze for the coins of San Francisco. The mixture resulted in the a striated wood grain appearance that you see here. It is common on several cents: this coin and the 1909 S Indian, 1909 S VDB Lincoln and the 1909 S Lincoln. It become less common in 1910. On occasion it is found on earlier dates but this too is uncommon. For some reason these coins tend to be discounted at sale and down graded by NGC and PCGS. This seems particularly odd to me when the exact opposite is done for toned silver coins that have a striking appearance. Is the wood grain an error or a beautiful mixture; "Beauty lies in the eye of the beholder."