1931 Lincoln Cent. MS-66 RD (PCGS). OGH.，Breathtakingly beautiful medium orange surfaces are fully lustrous in a soft satin texture. Razor sharp striking detail and a virtually pristine appearance are also praiseworthy attributes. The year 1931 saw the first of the relatively low (read: fewer than 20,000,000 coins) Lincoln cent mintages brought about by the economic downturn of the Great Depression. The Philadelphia Mint struck 19,396,000 examples that year. None of the cent issues from the Philadelphia, Denver and San Francisco mints during the 1931 through 1933 era saw immediate widespread release into circulation. Instead, most examples remained in government vaults until the mid 1930s, by which time the nations economy had recovered sufficiently to prompt the release of many coins from these earlier issues. With their relatively limited mintages catching the eye of contemporary numismatists, however, many cents dated 1931 through 1933 were promptly snatched up upon their release and preserved in Mint State. Other Uncirculated examples were obtained directly from the Treasury Department from 1931 through 1933 through mail order, which the federal government agreed to do to supply collectors with examples of issues that did not see immediate release into circulation. With so many coins set aside within the first few years after production, it is little wonder that issues like the 1931 are more plentiful in Mint State than their relatively limited mintages might imply. Even so, high quality Gems such as this are always in demand for both type and date purposes.，From the ESM Collection.，
