1990-(S) No S One Cent PR RD Values

Greysheet & Red Book® Price Guide

Sponsor

shop eBay

Sponsor

shop Stacks Bowers Auctions

Sponsor

shop Whitman

Sponsor

shop

Sponsor

shop CAC

1990-(S) No S One Cent PR RD Values

Details

A very unusual variety surfaced in 1990 when a few dozen examples of the 1990 Lincoln proof cent appeared without its requisite S mintmark. As the months turned into years, only a handful of other 1990 no S proof cents surfaced, proving this variety to be an especially rare error indeed. In an era of tight quality control at the United States Mint, it seems unfathomable that an error of this type, one in which a San Francisco Mint proof coin is missing its mintmark, could have ever been created, let alone was able to escape the mint. Yet, it did.

In all, fewer than 200 examples of the 1990 no S proof Lincoln cent have been discovered. On rare occasions, one still turns up in an unsearched hoard of 1990 proof sets. Whether or not many more exist remains to be seen, but it is without a doubt one of the rarest and most significant of all modern proof varieties and demand remains strong for this sensational error.

Obverse: Bust of Abraham Lincoln framed by IN GOD WE TRUST on the top periphery. The word LIBERTY to the left of the portait and the date postioned on the right side.

Reverse: Lincoln memorial building centered with words ONE CENT, UNITED STATES OF AMERICA on top and bottom periphery. E PLURIBUS UNUM centered above the top of the memorial.

Basic Information

GSID:

315515

Coin Date:

1990-(S)

Denomination:

1c / One Cent

Designation:

PR

Mint & Coinage Details

Mint Location:

San Francisco

Coinage Type:

Lincoln Cent

Coinage Years:

1983-2008

Composition:

Copper-plated zinc

Mint Mark:

S

Varieties and Classification

Variety:

No S

Physical Characteristics

Weight:

2.5 gr

Weight:

0.09 oz

Strike Type:

Proof

Diameter:

19 mm

Coin Shape:

Round

Design Details

Designer:

Victor Brenner (obverse); Frank Gasparro (reverse)

Obverse Lettering:

IN GOD WE TRUST, LIBERTY, 1990

Obverse Designer:

Victor D. Brenner

Reverse Lettering:

E PLURIBUS UNUM, ONE CENT, UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

Reverse Designer:

Frank Gasparro

Feedback:

Available on Greysheet Marketplace

View All

Dealer Directory

View All Dealers

Greysheet News

View All News
Whitman Publishes Stunning New Edition of Double Eagle Gold Coins
Whitman Publishes Stunning New Edition of Double Eagle Gold Coins
5/13/2026

The long-awaited second edition of Bowers' classic guide celebrates America's legendary $20 gold pieces in full color with expanded coverage, Greysheet-based pricing, and updated research for today's collectors.

The 1893-S Morgan Dollar: Common or Rare?
The 1893-S Morgan Dollar: Common or Rare?
5/13/2026

Numismatic publicist Donn Pearlman, writing in The Numismatist in 1986, said, "[T]here are so many examples of misleading statements, misinterpretations and misguided advice that some numismatic literature could compete for the Clifford Irving Award for Contemporary Fiction."

Greysheet Exclusive Reporting: Semiquincentennial Coins Head to Space
Greysheet Exclusive Reporting: Semiquincentennial Coins Head to Space
5/11/2026

When the next SpaceX Dragon 2 rocket lifts off from Florida, it will be carrying some special cargo.

Map icon

DAVID LAWRENCE RARE COINS

Map icon

The Police Athletic League (PAL) Building