1920-S Lincoln Cent. MS-65 RD (PCGS). Gold Shield Holder.An undeniably superior example of this prized San Francisco issue. The rich terracotta-red surfaces glisten with flashy mint luster throughout, showcasing pristine fields and untroubled devices. The strike is exceptional for the issue, exhibiting a boldness to the reverse, the date and the mintmark that is seldom encountered. Expectably smooth for the assigned grade, this coin would serve as a highlight in the finest Lincoln cent date and mint set.<p>The 1920-S cent is a frustrating issue for collectors of the series, as it faces both manufacturing and preservation challenges that make locating an example like the present piece an infrequent occurrence. Production had dropped off considerably to just 46,220,000 coins compared to the 139,760,000 cents struck in San Francisco the year before. This relatively limited mintage was plagued by overall poor quality and heavily worn dies, delivering an issue with chronically deplorable striking characteristics. Gem full Red examples are extremely rare, and even among those few examples that PCGS has certified as MS-65 RD striking quality varies greatly. Well rendered pieces, as here, deserve and often command considerable premiums.PCGS Population: 16; none finer.
