It's funny that you ask this, for a a kid in 1977 or so, CoinAge magazine had some blurb about the 'sleeper' 1973-S cent and it's potential for future price appreciation
Sooo, for the next couple of years, in addition to wheat cents, I saved 1973-S cents from circulation, accumulating a couple rolls of EF-AU coins. Still have them somewhere...
In the Eastern part of the U. S., we see 1974-S cents in circulation much more often than 1968-S thru 1973-S cents. I believe the reason is that the Mint distributed many of the 1974-S cents intermixed in with other cent bags. The Mint's explanation was that they wished to discourage hoarding of the 1974-S cents.
An authorized PCGS dealer, and a contributor to the Red Book.
You didn't necessarily ask, but I will add that in my experience errors (primarily clips and off-centers) on the late date SF mint cents are hardest to find on 1973-S and 1974-S, with the former slightly scarcer than the latter. The rest of the run in descending order of rarity: 1972-S, 1969-S, 1968-S, 1971-S and 1970-S. I know of more double and triple clips on 1970-S and 1971-S cents than on any other dates in the entire run of copper Lincolns.
Sean Reynolds
Incomplete planchets wanted, especially Lincoln Cents & type coins.
"Keep in mind that most of what passes as numismatic information is no more than tested opinion at best, and marketing blather at worst. However, I try to choose my words carefully, since I know that you guys are always watching." - Joe O'Connor
I haven't roll searched in a while but from my experience, the 1974-S and the 1972-S were probably the most common with the 69, 70, and 71 showing up at about the frequency after those. 1968-S and 1973-S were definitely the scarcest.
All and all, I did save all the S-mint Lincolns I could find. They were scarcer than the Wheaties and who knows, maybe one day they will command a small premium.
<< <i>I haven't roll searched in a while but from my experience, the 1974-S and the 1972-S were probably the most common with the 69, 70, and 71 showing up at about the frequency after those. 1968-S and 1973-S were definitely the scarcest.
All and all, I did save all the S-mint Lincolns I could find. They were scarcer than the Wheaties and who knows, maybe one day they will command a small premium. >>
I still actively search, probably $100-$200 a week in cents. I usually turn up far less S mints than wheats. Todays search of $55 in CWR cents produced 16 wheats including a 50-S and 7 memorial S mints.
Tir nam beann, nan gleann, s'nan gaisgeach ~ Saorstat Albanaich a nis!
<< <i>In the Eastern part of the U. S., we see 1974-S cents in circulation much more often than 1968-S thru 1973-S cents. I believe the reason is that the Mint distributed many of the 1974-S cents intermixed in with other cent bags. The Mint's explanation was that they wished to discourage hoarding of the 1974-S cents. >>
I remember that strategy used by the Mint back in '74. Seemed to work quite well.
<< <i>In the Eastern part of the U. S., we see 1974-S cents in circulation much more often than 1968-S thru 1973-S cents. I believe the reason is that the Mint distributed many of the 1974-S cents intermixed in with other cent bags. The Mint's explanation was that they wished to discourage hoarding of the 1974-S cents. >>
This is true. I was working at Coin World when they did this.
Numismatist. 50 year member ANA. Winner of four ANA Heath Literary Awards; three Wayte and Olga Raymond Literary Awards; Numismatist of the Year Award 2009, and Lifetime Achievement Award 2020. Winner numerous NLG Literary Awards.
I don't sort through nearly as many cents as I used to, but in WI I would say that I find on average perhaps 10-15 of the '68-'74 era S-mint coppers per box. While not backed by any stats of what I have found, as a casual observation I would say the most common are '69 and '74 with '68 and '73 being the toughest to pull. On a side note, in my area and for those that care, copper percentages remain a pretty consistent 26 - 28% but the number of wheats per box seems to have fallen by quite a bit since 2009. Maybe 6-8 wheats per box I would guess is the norm.
<< <i>It's funny that you ask this, for a a kid in 1977 or so, CoinAge magazine had some blurb about the 'sleeper' 1973-S cent and it's potential for future price appreciation
Sooo, for the next couple of years, in addition to wheat cents, I saved 1973-S cents from circulation, accumulating a couple rolls of EF-AU coins. Still have them somewhere... >>
I seem to remember this article. I always saved "s" cents because they seemed so much less common in circulation. The '73-s seems to be the least commonly found followed by the '72-s. I still have rolls of "s" cents stashed somewhere. Funny.
"to you, a hero is some kind of weird sandwich..."
Comments
Dead Cat Waltz Exonumia
"Coin collecting for outcasts..."
Sooo, for the next couple of years, in addition to wheat cents, I saved 1973-S cents from circulation, accumulating a couple rolls of EF-AU coins. Still have them somewhere...
Liberty: Parent of Science & Industry
Menomonee Falls Wisconsin USA
http://www.pcgs.com/SetRegistr...dset.aspx?s=68269&ac=1">Musky 1861 Mint Set
An authorized PCGS dealer, and a contributor to the Red Book.
Sean Reynolds
"Keep in mind that most of what passes as numismatic information is no more than tested opinion at best, and marketing blather at worst. However, I try to choose my words carefully, since I know that you guys are always watching." - Joe O'Connor
<< <i>Fascinating about the errors. >>
Love the errors. My thing.
All and all, I did save all the S-mint Lincolns I could find. They were scarcer than the Wheaties and who knows, maybe one day they will command a small premium.
<< <i>I haven't roll searched in a while but from my experience, the 1974-S and the 1972-S were probably the most common with the 69, 70, and 71 showing up at about the frequency after those. 1968-S and 1973-S were definitely the scarcest.
All and all, I did save all the S-mint Lincolns I could find. They were scarcer than the Wheaties and who knows, maybe one day they will command a small premium. >>
I still actively search, probably $100-$200 a week in cents. I usually turn up far less S mints than wheats. Todays search of $55 in CWR cents produced 16 wheats including a 50-S and 7 memorial S mints.
<< <i>In the Eastern part of the U. S., we see 1974-S cents in circulation much more often than 1968-S thru 1973-S cents. I believe the reason is that the Mint distributed many of the 1974-S cents intermixed in with other cent bags. The Mint's explanation was that they wished to discourage hoarding of the 1974-S cents. >>
I remember that strategy used by the Mint back in '74. Seemed to work quite well.
<< <i>In the Eastern part of the U. S., we see 1974-S cents in circulation much more often than 1968-S thru 1973-S cents. I believe the reason is that the Mint distributed many of the 1974-S cents intermixed in with other cent bags. The Mint's explanation was that they wished to discourage hoarding of the 1974-S cents. >>
This is true. I was working at Coin World when they did this.
Jeff
<< <i>It's funny that you ask this, for a a kid in 1977 or so, CoinAge magazine had some blurb about the 'sleeper' 1973-S cent and it's potential for future price appreciation
Sooo, for the next couple of years, in addition to wheat cents, I saved 1973-S cents from circulation, accumulating a couple rolls of EF-AU coins. Still have them somewhere... >>
I seem to remember this article. I always saved "s" cents because they seemed so much less common in circulation. The '73-s seems to be the least commonly found followed by the '72-s. I still have rolls of "s" cents stashed somewhere. Funny.