The 1908 Indian Cents

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 mintmarked “pennies” were struck.

The story behind the first mintmarked 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 This superseded earlier requirements that stipulated the production of base-metal coins, like the cent, being conducted at only the Philadelphia Mint.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 mintmarked 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 mintmarked 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.