The 1908 Indian Cents, First Mint-Marked Cents

PCGS - The 1908 Indian cent marked the penultimate year of production for the popular series, which launched in 1859 and came to a close in 1909. The year 1908 marks a significant occasion for American numismatics, and certainly for collectors whose main ambitions are United States small cents. It was in 1908 that the first mint-marked "pennies" were struck.

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The story behind the first mint-marked cents originates in the Act of April 24, 1906, which permits the United States Mint to strike all coins, including base-metal coinage, at any of the nation's mint facilities. This superseded earlier requirements that stipulated the production of base-metal coins, like the cent, being conducted at only the Philadelphia Mint. The passage of the 1906 law paved the way for the first mint-marked cents, with the first being the 1908-S Indian cent, which was struck at the San Francisco Mint.

While the 1909-S Indian cent claims the title of lowest mintage (309,000) for the business-strike arm of the series, the 1908-S carries numismatic significance as the first mintmarked cent. It's also no slouch as a semi-key coin, with its mintage of 1,115,000 - the third-lowest among business strikes. In a grade of PCGS F12, the 1908-S Indian cent fetches around $115, while an example graded MS63BN goes for more than $500.

Also of note is the 1908 Indian cent. It doesn't necessarily boast the groundbreaking significance of the first mint-marked Indian cent, as the 1908-S claims. However, it's an essential addition to any Indian cent collection, many of which are built on the PCGS Set Registry. Lower-graded examples of the 1908 Philadelphia strike can be had for just a few bucks, while an MS63BN can be purchased for approximately $100.