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Key Dates & Errors · 1931 Date Guide

1931-S

Mintage 866,000 from five known dies (about 173,200 coins per die on average). Classic Depression-era key — mint marks sit close on all dies, so secondary markers matter.

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Diagnostics in this package come from Chuck Daughtrey’s die study (Keys to the Lincoln, 2018). Mint marks were punched into working dies by hand until 1990, so position (and often tilt) separates dies. Overlays against fixed design elements such as the date make those differences obvious. Measurements between the closest point of the middle date digits and the mint mark help confirm which die struck a coin.

Study sample: 193 different 1931-S coins. Relative frequencies: #01 very common (~30%), #02 common (~21%), #03 common (~24%), #04 uncommon (~14%), #05 scarce (~11%).

Because every known die has a close mint mark, die cracks, dots, scratches, and reverse wear patterns finish the identification.

Known fakes & alterations

Key and semi-key Lincoln cents are the focus of authenticators and counterfeiters alike. Common alteration methods include:

  • Adding a mint mark to a common Philadelphia issue of the same date (for example, turning a 1914 into a 1914-D).
  • Scraping or altering digits of a common date (for example, turning a 1944-D into a 1914-D).
  • Copying genuine coins by spark erosion or soft-die transposition.

Crude alterations usually fail under close study because device details and mint-mark character are wrong. Matching a coin to one of the few known genuine dies for the issue is a powerful authenticity check. When in doubt, use a trusted third-party grading service.

1931-S is frequently targeted with added mint marks. A close S alone is not proof — match secondary markers to one of the five documented dies.

Quick checklist

  1. All five dies have close mint-mark placement — do not stop at “close S”
  2. Die #01: concentric jaw scratches; reverse often weak lower center
  3. Die #02: heavy die dot behind head; trenches at UNUM
  4. Die #03: chubby mint mark; crack from V of VDB along shoulder; selective reverse letter wear
  5. Die #04: N–S date/chin scratches; reverse scrape at PLURIBUS·UNUM dot
  6. Die #05 (scarce): closest S-to-9 spacing (~0.1 mm); PLURIBUS S ejection scrapes

Die pairs that struck this issue

Die #01 Very common (~30%). Close mint mark (typical). Concentric die scratches on jaw/collar; two raised marks behind head on cleaner examples; reverse often weak in lower center.

How to recognize: Very common (~30%). Close mint mark (typical). Concentric die scratches on jaw/collar; two raised marks behind head on cleaner examples; reverse often weak in lower center.

Relative frequency: Very common. Study sample: 58 of 193 (30.1%). Assumed die mintage: ~260,650. Most common 1931-S die. Behind-head marks may not survive VF and lower.

  • 1931-S Die #01
    1931-S Die #01
Die #02 Common. Heavy die dot behind Lincoln’s head; mint mark high but well centered, slightly lower than #01 with slight left tilt. Reverse trenches between U–M of UNUM.

How to recognize: Common. Heavy die dot behind Lincoln’s head; mint mark high but well centered, slightly lower than #01 with slight left tilt. Reverse trenches between U–M of UNUM.

Relative frequency: Common. Study sample: 41 of 193 (21.2%). Assumed die mintage: ~183,600. Later states may show two small rim cuds on the upper-left reverse rim.

  • 1931-S Die #02 — die-dot marker die
    1931-S Die #02 — die-dot marker die
Die #03 Common. Chubby/worn-looking mint mark; centerline touches far-left of the 3. Die crack NNE from V of VDB along shoulder. Reverse: heavy selective wear on specific legend letters from indirect transfer.

How to recognize: Common. Chubby/worn-looking mint mark; centerline touches far-left of the 3. Die crack NNE from V of VDB along shoulder. Reverse: heavy selective wear on specific legend letters from indirect transfer.

Relative frequency: Common. Study sample: 46 of 193 (23.8%). Assumed die mintage: ~206,108. Unusual reverse wear pattern hits U/I of UNITED, A and second T of STATES, O of OF, and IC of AMERICA while other letters stay sharper.

  • 1931-S Die #03
    1931-S Die #03
Die #04 Uncommon. Very high mint mark, slight right tilt; N–S scratches in date/mint-mark area and heavy scratches from chin. Reverse: N–S scrape around PLURIBUS·UNUM dot. Earlier states only.

How to recognize: Uncommon. Very high mint mark, slight right tilt; N–S scratches in date/mint-mark area and heavy scratches from chin. Reverse: N–S scrape around PLURIBUS·UNUM dot. Earlier states only.

Relative frequency: Uncommon. Study sample: 27 of 193 (14.0%). Assumed die mintage: ~121,250. Lacks the heavy die wear common on other 1931-S dies. Light reverse scratches often show between E and S of STATES.

  • 1931-S Die #04
    1931-S Die #04
  • 1931-S Die #04 — additional plate
    1931-S Die #04 — additional plate
Die #05 Scarce. Closest mint-mark-to-date spacing of the issue (~0.1 mm from the 9). Reverse: ejection scrapes at S of PLURIBUS; light NE–SW scratches in lower-right wheat area.

How to recognize: Scarce. Closest mint-mark-to-date spacing of the issue (~0.1 mm from the 9). Reverse: ejection scrapes at S of PLURIBUS; light NE–SW scratches in lower-right wheat area.

Relative frequency: Scarce. Study sample: 21 of 193 (10.9%). Assumed die mintage: ~94,395. Most scarce 1931-S die in the study. Known into mid/late state even though sample size suggests relative scarcity.

  • 1931-S Die #05 — closest S-to-date spacing
    1931-S Die #05 — closest S-to-date spacing
  • 1931-S Die #05 — measurement plate
    1931-S Die #05 — measurement plate

Related

1931 Date Guide All key-date packages Search 1931-S dies