1908 (S) Indian Head Cent Repunched Mint Mark FS-501 Snow-1

Description

Carrying the dual designations of Cherrypickers' FS-501 and Snow-1, this 1908-S Indian Head Cent exhibits a repunched mintmark where the original S was punched north of the final position — the primary S impression was placed too high, and a corrective second punch was applied at the correct location, leaving diagnostic remnants of the initial placement visible above the final S. The 1908-S holds extraordinary significance in the Indian Head Cent series as one of only two S-mint issues ever produced, with 1908 and 1909 being the sole years the San Francisco Mint struck Indian Head Cents. The 1908-S mintage of just 1,115,000 pieces makes it one of the lowest regular-issue mintages in the later Indian Head Cent series, establishing it as a key date that commands significant premiums in all grades. A repunched mintmark variety on this already scarce issue multiplies collector interest, as it combines key-date status with die variety attribution — two independently desirable characteristics that together create exceptional numismatic demand. The Indian Head Cent was designed by James Barton Longacre, featuring Liberty in a Native American feathered headdress on the obverse and an oak wreath with shield on the reverse. Composed of 95% copper and 5% tin and zinc, the coin weighs 3.11 grams with a 19.05 mm diameter. The Snow-1 designation references the catalog system developed by Rick Snow, the foremost authority on Indian Head Cent die varieties, while the FS-501 Cherrypickers' designation confirms its recognition in the broader variety collecting community. The convergence of key-date status, low mintage, and documented die variety makes this one of the most sought-after RPM varieties in the entire Indian Head Cent series.

Attribution History

• FS-501, Snow-1