How to Identify the 1931-S Lincoln Wheat Cent

What It Is

The 1931-S is a semi-key date in the Lincoln Wheat cent series, notable for its comparatively low mintage from the San Francisco Mint during the early years of the Great Depression, when reduced commercial demand for new coinage led the Mint to strike far fewer cents than in a typical year.

Obverse Design

Standard Wheat cent obverse: Lincoln facing right, "IN GOD WE TRUST" above his head, "LIBERTY" to the left, and the date "1931" to the right of his shoulder.

Reverse Design

Standard Wheat cent reverse with two curved wheat stalks framing "ONE CENT," "UNITED STATES OF AMERICA," and "E PLURIBUS UNUM" above center.

Size, Weight, and Metal

Struck in 95% copper bronze alloy, with tin and zinc making up the balance, weighing 3.11 grams, measuring 19 mm across, with a plain edge.

Mint Mark

A small "S" appears below the date on the obverse, identifying a San Francisco strike, positioned close to the rim in the same general area used for Denver's "D" on other dates.

Telling It Apart From Similar Coins

Distinguish it from the far more common 1931 (no mint mark, Philadelphia) and 1931-D (Denver) cents by confirming the presence, size, and shape of the "S" mint mark. Genuine mint marks from this era were hand-punched individually into each working die, so they tend to have a slightly organic, hand-cut look rather than the perfectly uniform appearance of a later machine-applied mark.

Judging Condition

Because many surviving 1931-S cents were recognized and saved by collectors at the time, aware of the year's unusually low mintage, a meaningfully larger share exist in better preserved condition than is typical for coins of this general era. Check Lincoln's cheek, hair, and the wheat stalks on the reverse for the smoothing associated with circulation wear to arrive at an accurate grade.

Authenticity Red Flags

This date is a frequent target for counterfeit mint marks added to common, inexpensive 1931 Philadelphia cents. Warning signs include an "S" that looks unusually flat, too uniform in shape, glued or soldered on, or positioned differently than on verified genuine coins, along with any surface disturbance, discoloration, or roughness around the mint mark suggesting it was added to the coin after it left the Mint.