Indian Head Cent 1908-S G-VG

1908 was a very important year for cartoon lovers. Tex Avery was born in 1908. He would go on to draw some of the most iconic cartoons in cinematic history, including Buggs Bunny and Daffy Duck. Just a few months later, Mel Blanc, the voice actor for many of Avery’s characters, was also born. On the other side of the cinematic spectrum, the first horror movie premiered in Chicago that very year. Robert Louis Stevenson’s Doctor Jekyll and Mr. Hyde premiered as a one reel film. Finally, Jack Johnson knocked out the current heavyweight champTommy Burns, becoming the first black man to hold the prestigious title of World Champion.

The 1908-S Indian Head cent has the distinction of being the first minor coin to be struck at any branch mint. Up to this point, only silver and gold coins were used in the West, thus all transactions were rounded to the nearest five cents. Now, with the ease of train travel, planchets and other materials could be more easily transported. Although the coin was loved by many in the West, or certainly seen as a curiosity, this would bring changes to the economy. Now sales tax could be raised by smaller increments. Even the street fare was raised from a nickel to six cents. These cents were widely collected after the Lincoln cent began the following year. Thus making low grades tough to find. This is, though a generally difficult coin to find. Most survive today in the Fine to Very Fine range.

Finding this issue in full red gem is difficult, but not prohibitively so. A couple uncirculated rolls have managed to make their way into collectors hands. In fact, many of the red gems surviving today come from the same roll where the final “A” in “America” is filled in. There are other varieties this year. The most famous is the Snow-1, the 1908-S/S. If you have any questions regarding the Indian Head Cent or varieties, please contact any of our knowledgeable staff at 800-735-1311, and we’ll be happy to assist you!

• Denomination: Cent
• Year: 1908
• Diameter: 19 mm
• Mint Mark: S
• Thickness: 1.5 mm
• Grade: Ungraded