With only three hundred thousand of the 1909 S Indian Head pennies minted, this coin is an incredibly rare find full of history. One reason the San Francisco mint began producing the Indian Head penny was because the cost of the trolley was raised from five cents to six cents, creating demand for the one-cent coin on the West Coast. The second and final Indian Head penny ever produced at the San Francisco mint, the 1909 S Indian Head penny was produced at a much lower mintage than its previous years. This makes this coin very rare and very special to many collectors.
The Future of U.S. Coins
The 1909 S Indian Head penny was overshadowed by the announcement that the U.S. Mint would begin striking a new penny based on Abraham Lincoln, so the popularity of this coin was considerably less than it had been in prior years. Due to the lack of appeal of the traditional Indian Head penny, very few were produced at the San Francisco mint in 1909, as they prepared to strike the new Lincoln Wheat penny later that year.
1909 S Indian Head Penny Values
With low minting numbers and a rich history, the 1909 S Indian Head Penny is one of the most highly sought after coins of all time. On average, the 1909 S Indian Head penny is worth a few hundred dollars, and mint condition 1909 S Indian Head pennies can go for as much as a thousand dollars. Any fan of coins or history would be lucky to get their hands on this truly historic and unique coin.
Type of coin: Penny
Year: 1909
Mint Mark: San Francisco
Total mintage: 300,000
Metal content: 95% Copper, 5% Tin and Zinc
Face value: One Cent
Weight: 3.11 grams
Edge: Plain
Designer: James Barton Longacre
Diameter: 19 millimeters