Do Your Rescue "S"'s

Hi there!

Im not sure, I'm new.

Should we be saving the S Coins? if so.. why? :)

Well, for modern coins, S mint usually made much less, so their issues are less common* (which for moderns doesn't automatically mean "more valuable" - look at the 1955-S Wheat cent - but might be worth saving anyway). Also, all S mint coins from 1975 or later (to be exact, 1975 for cents, 1971 for nickels, and 1968 for everything else that isn't dollars**) are proofs, which is another matter entirely.
For earlier coins this doesn't quite work out, but you're likely to keep any silver (or Buffalo nickels) you come across anyway, so them being also a S mint is a slight bonus at most.
Is that a decent enough explanation?



*) Remember though that for many issues this just means there were hundreds of millions of coins made instead of billions (or at best tens of millions instead of hundreds of millions). Few modern S mints are actual keys (varieties not counted obviously), and most of them are silver.
**) Both Eisenhower and SBA dollars included business strike S mint issues; the Ike ones are also silver (40%).

Up until a few months ago I did then I found out there isn't any resale value to them. I have around eight rolls put away.
John1

i save all S mintmarks on nickels prior to 1955 (most of these are lower mintage) and of course the S mintmarked proof nickels. I don't save the 68-70 S mintmark nickels. I know a bunch of people do, but I don't think they'll ever be worth anything.

I save all S mint marked finds by default.

I keep all 95% copper cents, which includes all circulation S minted cents (1974 and earlier).
I keep all nickels, which includes all circulation S minted nickels (1970 and earlier).

Of course, I would keep any NIFC S minted coins (all proofs, 40% silver Eisenhower dollars, 40% Bicentennial issues, and SBA dollars).

Oops, my bad.

Let me restate:

Of course, I would keep any NIFC S minted coins (all proofs, 40% silver Eisenhower dollars, 40% Bicentennial issues) and SBA dollars.


Too bad they were not the 1981-S, because those (along with the P&D) were NIFC.

I hold onto any S minted coins I find, excluding nickels where I only hold the proof varieties. They have to be in really bad shape for me not to pick them out.

I still need several S to complete my first set. So I'm pretty much saving anything with an S on it. On the east coast I dont get very many S marks. Or too many D either.