The 1929-S Lincoln cent is an early bronze penny made at the San Francisco Mint.
Victor David Brenner designed the famous portrait of Abraham Lincoln on the front and two wheat stalks on the back.
By 1929, the San Francisco Mint was striking millions of pennies to meet the needs of a busy economy.
That year marked the end of the Roaring Twenties just before the stock market crash.
Most pennies from this era went straight into circulation and saw years of heavy use.
Finding an early branch-mint cent that escaped daily trade is always a treat for collectors.
A pristine example of this penny crossed the auction block through Heritage Auctions.
The coin was certified in a remarkable grade of Mint State 67 Red.
Grading services use the Red designation for copper coins that still retain nearly all of their original bright mint color.
A grade of 67 means the coin has practically no flaws, full luster, and exceptional eye appeal.
Bidders competed strongly, pushing the coin to a record result listed in the auction logs as 01/25.
Prices like this show just how much serious collectors value top-tier condition on early Lincoln cents.
Tens of millions of Lincoln pennies were made in 1929, but very few survived without wear.
Copper is a chemically active metal that reacts easily with moisture and air.
Over the decades, most bronze cents turned brown, developed spots, or suffered heavy scratches.
Branch-mint coins from San Francisco often had weaker strikes or lower preservation rates than Philadelphia coins.
Because of this, finding a 1929-S penny with full original red color is extremely difficult.
Collectors who build complete sets of Lincoln cents compete aggressively whenever an elite grade appears.
Condition rarity is the single biggest factor behind the high market prices for this issue.
Start by looking at the date on the front of the coin, located to the right of Lincoln's chest.
Check directly below the date for a small "S" mintmark, which shows it was struck in San Francisco.
If there is no mintmark, the coin was made in Philadelphia instead.
Use a 5x or 10x magnifying glass under good light to inspect the surface details.
Look closely at Lincoln's hair, cheekbone, and coat to see if there is any rubbing or dullness.
Check the back of the coin along the tips and lines of the two wheat ears for signs of wear.
Pay attention to the color, since a coin with bright original red surfaces is far scarcer than a brown one.
If you are not sure what you have in your pocket change, an app like CoinKnow or Coin Value Checker can give you a quick first pass.
Keep in mind that common circulated examples are easy to find and carry modest values.
Only coins certified at the very top grades by major grading services bring record auction prices.
For a no-effort price check, take a look at which coin valuation app is worth installing.