The 1935-S Lincoln cent is a classic copper penny struck at the San Francisco Mint.
During the mid-1930s, the United States was slowly working its way through the Great Depression.
People spent almost every penny they had on daily necessities.
Because of this constant spending, most pennies from that year entered circulation right away.
Over time, daily handling wore down their sharp design details and darkened their surfaces.
This particular coin is an RD piece, which stands for full red color.
Finding a copper coin from the 1930s that still retains its bright original mint color is unusual.
That bright copper finish makes this issue a standout in the Lincoln cent series.
An exceptional example of this coin brought a winning bid of $23,000 at Heritage Auctions.
The coin was certified in MS Red condition by professional graders.
MS stands for Mint State, which means the coin never circulated in pocket change.
The Red designation means the surfaces still show at least ninety-five percent of their original fiery color.
Bidders competed strongly because top-tier survivors from the San Francisco Mint are difficult to find in this state of preservation.
A certified grade gives collectors confidence that the copper color is natural and that the surfaces are uncleaned.
High-end sales like this show what specialized collectors will pay for an extraordinary survivor.
The main factor driving the price of this penny is condition rarity.
Raw 1935-S cents are fairly common in brown and worn grades.
Copper is a very reactive metal that oxidizes quickly when exposed to air, humidity, and touch.
Most 1935-S cents turned brown or red-brown decades ago.
Very few rolls were set aside in dry, protective storage when they were first released.
San Francisco strikes from the 1930s also frequently suffered from softer die details.
A piece that combines a sharp strike, flawless surfaces, and full red color is a true rarity.
Lincoln cent enthusiasts who build complete sets in pristine condition create steady demand for these top pieces.
A typical circulated piece found in an old jar will not bring this kind of money.
You can check your own coin with a few simple steps at home.
First, find a well-lit area and use a small magnifying glass or a 5x jeweler loupe.
Look at the front of the coin to the right of Lincoln's bust.
Check the date to make sure it clearly reads 1935.
Look directly below the date for a small letter S.
The S mint mark shows that your coin was struck in San Francisco rather than Philadelphia or Denver.
If there is no mint mark below the date, the coin was made in Philadelphia.
Next, examine the surface color under direct light.
A coin with true red designation looks bright orange-red, just like a newly minted penny.
If the coin is chocolate brown or dull, it is classified as brown or red-brown, which lowers the value significantly.
Look for any signs of wear on the high points of Lincoln's cheek, jaw, and hair.
If you are not sure about the details or the color of your penny, you can scan it with Coin Value Checker to get a helpful first look.
Keep in mind that coins with heavy scratches, cleaning lines, or dark spots will not reach record prices.
For anyone working through a pile, our breakdown of each free coin identifier apps we tried saves real time.
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