The 1928-S Lincoln cent is a classic early penny from the San Francisco Mint.
The San Francisco facility struck these coins in copper during the late 1920s.
Lincoln cents from this era are well known for having lower mintages than those made in Philadelphia.
San Francisco pennies from the 1920s often suffered from poor strikes and worn dies.
Finding an example that kept its original bright copper color is tough today.
Most pieces went straight into daily circulation and turned brown over time.
That makes this specific San Francisco issue a major target for series collectors.
It holds the 38th spot on our list of valuable coins.
An exceptional example of the 1928-S penny crossed the block at Heritage Auctions.
The coin was certified in a high Mint State grade of 66.
The sale realized a notable record cataloged at 04/20.
Heritage Auctions handled the bidding for this top-tier piece.
A grade of 66 means the coin shows almost no marks or contact flaws from production.
The surface luster remains fully intact without any rub from circulation.
It also earned the RD designation, which stands for full original red color.
Copper coins easily tone down to red-brown or solid brown as they age.
A certified red surface from this era commands serious money among specialists.
Condition rarity is the biggest factor behind this coin's high value.
While many 1928-S cents survive in worn condition, almost none survive in near-perfect shape.
Collectors building registry sets want the highest certified grades available.
Competition between high-end buyers pushes auction prices up when a top piece appears.
Branch-mint Lincoln cents from the 1920s are notoriously hard to find with bright luster.
The dies used at San Francisco were often kept in service for too long.
This led to weak details on Lincoln's portrait and on the wheat ears on the reverse.
A piece that combines a sharp strike with pristine red surfaces is an extreme outlier.
Regular pocket change versions carry modest value, but top grades set records.
Start by looking closely at the date and the mint mark on the front of the coin.
The date 1928 sits on the right side below Lincoln's bust.
Look for a small "S" mint mark directly below the date.
You will need good lighting and a 5x or 10x magnifying glass to inspect the surfaces.
Check the color of the copper under a direct desk lamp.
True RD coins show bright, untoned orange-red metal across both sides.
Look closely at Lincoln's cheekbone and the tips of the wheat stalks on the back.
Any flatness or dark friction in those high spots means the coin has seen circulation.
If you want a quick scan of your coin, you can use the CoinKnow app to help check your pocket change.
Be careful not to confuse a genuine red cent with an old coin that was cleaned or polished.
Cleaned coins have an unnatural pink or glossy shine that ruins their collector value.
Coins that achieve high record prices are third-party graded and sealed in plastic holders.
For an instant read on what your coin is worth, see our breakdown of each coin valuation app we tried.