1908-S Indian Head Penny Value: What Is It Worth in 2026?
⚠ Key date / rare varietyMintage: ~1.1 million struck
Estimated value · Source: USACoinBook price guide (updated Feb 2026)
1908 S Indian Head Penny
Mint: San Francisco (S)
Get it graded
Getting this graded by PCGS or NGC before selling usually pays off. Authentication matters: the 1877, 1909-S, and 1864-L are among the most faked cents in the hobby.
Value by condition
| Good (G-4, heavily worn) | $123 |
| Very Good (VG-8) | $132 |
| Fine (F-12) | $163 |
| Very Fine (VF-20) | $186 |
| Extremely Fine (XF-40) | $249 |
| About Uncirculated (AU-50) | $313 |
| Mint State (MS-63, uncirculated) | $556 |
The first cent ever struck with an S mint mark — and the first year any U.S. cent was made outside Philadelphia. The mint mark sits under the wreath on the reverse. Low mintage, key date.
See the full page for this coin (mintage, how to identify it, where to sell)How to confirm it's genuine
- The date is on the obverse below the portrait. Only 1908-S and 1909-S carry a mint mark (under the wreath on the reverse) — every other year is Philadelphia with no mark.
- Never clean the coin: cleaning destroys the original surface and can cut the value in half.
- For any coin worth more than $200, PCGS/NGC grading fees (~$20–50) are money well spent.
Where to sell this coin
- eBay works best in the $1.00–$200 range. Take clear photos of both sides in natural light, and put the year, variety, and approximate grade in the title.
- A local coin dealer is the fastest way to cash out, but expect 60–70% of guide prices. Common-date Indian Head pennies sell well by the roll or in mixed lots.
- Graded high-value coins do best at auction houses like Heritage Auctions or Stack's Bowers, where realized prices are public.