An attractive original example of the first Small Cent struck at San Francisco, and a coin that I honestly think is a bit undergraded. Wear, if any actually exists, is very difficult to see on this coin. The grade assigned may be put down to PCGS’s current extreme strictness (March, 2020), and may be due not to overall detail but the color of the planchet and perception of a lack of luster. The 1908-S Cents were not the sharpest struck coins in the world, and commonly come on planchets that display “woodgrain” toning that is noticeable when they have toned to Brown. A little bit of that here but not a lot, and pleasing light ocher brown surfaces.

PCGS 2232.53/39209432