The United States Mint struck this Lincoln Cent in 1968 at the San Francisco facility.
San Francisco took over proof set production that year after a multi-year pause on mint marks.
Collectors were eager to buy proof sets again, and millions were made for the public.
The coin is made of a standard bronze alloy with a bright red copper finish.
Proof coins from this era were specially made for collectors rather than daily commerce.
They feature mirror-like fields and sharp details that standard pocket change does not have.
Even though the mint produced many proof sets in 1968, finding a piece that stayed in top condition is not easy.
Heritage Auctions sold a premier example of this coin in January 2004.
The winning bidder paid $14,375 for the piece.
A professional grading service certified the coin at PR-67 with a Red designation.
The PR stands for proof, and 67 means the coin has only tiny imperfections visible under magnification.
The Red label confirms that the surfaces still show their original, bright copper color.
Most 1968-S proofs sell for modest amounts, but certified coins at this grade level bring strong prices.
Auction records like this represent the very top of the market for this date.
Proof Lincoln cents from the late 1960s were minted in large quantities.
The high price comes down to condition rarity rather than total mintage.
Copper is a chemically active metal that reacts easily with moisture and air.
Over the decades, most 1968-S proof cents developed haze, spots, or dark toning.
Once a copper coin tones brown or develops stains, it loses its full Red status.
Surviving in PR-67 Red with flawless, original color is genuinely rare for this issue.
Set registry collectors compete aggressively for the cleanest surviving examples from every year.
That collector demand pushes prices high when a pristine coin appears at auction.
You can start by looking for the small "S" mint mark directly below the date on the front.
Look at the background fields under a good light source to check for a reflective, mirror finish.
Use a 5x or 10x magnifying glass to inspect the surfaces for tiny black spots or milky haze.
If you want a quick first pass on a coin in your collection, you can scan it using Coin Value Checker to see basic details.
Check the color of the copper carefully across both sides of the coin.
The coin must show full, fiery Red color across the entire surface to qualify for the RD designation.
If the coin has faded to Red-Brown or Brown, the market value drops dramatically.
Do not attempt to clean or polish a dull penny, as cleaning permanently ruins proof surfaces.
Only coins that receive high certified grades from major grading services achieve record prices.
If you would rather not memorise mint marks, the free coin identifier apps picks that held up in testing reads them for you.
Upload a photo and get an instant value, grade estimate, and error check — no jargon, no sign-up required.