1909-S/S 1C S/Horizontal S Lincoln Cent - Type 1 Wheat Reverse PCGS MS64RD

A coveted early Lincoln Cent variety, this 1909-S/S S over Horizontal S Cent combines first-year type status, a popular mintmark blunder, and fully original Red designation in an appealing PCGS MS64RD grade. Issued at the San Francisco Mint, this bronze cent represents the inaugural year of Victor David Brenner’s enduring Lincoln design, paired with the Type 1 Wheat Reverse. The obverse features the right-facing portrait of Abraham Lincoln, with LIBERTY at left, the date 1909 below, and the San Francisco mintmark beneath the date. On this important variety, the mintmark was punched over a previously misplaced horizontal S, creating the distinctive S/Horizontal S feature eagerly sought by specialists in the series. The reverse displays the familiar ONE CENT and UNITED STATES OF AMERICA within a central field, framed by two stylized wheat ears, with E PLURIBUS UNUM above. Certified MS64RD by PCGS, this example offers the strong visual appeal collectors expect from a premium near-Gem survivor. The surfaces retain vivid original mint red color, a particularly desirable trait for an issue that is often encountered with mellowed or subdued coloration. Luster remains bright and attractive across both sides, while the strike is sharp enough to bring pleasing definition to Lincoln’s portrait and the reverse wheat ears. The overall preservation is notably solid for the assigned grade, with only the minor marks consistent with careful handling in the Mint State range. Eye appeal is a clear strength. The 1909-S cents occupy a special place in American numismatics. As one of the most celebrated first-year issues in the U.S. series, they have enjoyed sustained collector demand for generations, driven by their status as the debut San Francisco Lincoln Cent and by the broader popularity of the Wheat Cent series. The S/Horizontal S variety adds an additional layer of interest, offering specialists a dramatic and highly collectible mintmark anomaly from one of the most closely studied years in the entire Lincoln cent series. For collectors pursuing early branch-mint Lincolns, Red-certified examples of this variety are especially prized. With a mintage of 1,825,000 pieces for the 1909-S cent, this issue is recognized as a low-mintage and important semi-key within the Wheat Cent series. PCGS reports a population of 228 examples in MS64RD, with 456 finer, underscoring both its collectible availability and the strong competition that attractive Red examples continue to generate. While obtainable in lower circulated grades, problem-free Mint State coins with full original red color are distinctly more elusive and enjoy broad demand from type buyers, variety specialists, and advanced Lincoln cent collectors alike. An important and visually impressive example of this classic first-year Lincoln variety, this 1909-S/S S over Horizontal S Cent is a desirable acquisition for the specialist and a standout addition to any high-quality small cent cabinet.