Cent production quadrupled at the San Francisco Mint from 1918 to 1919, which seems odd when viewed from today, as the war had already ended. All the conditions that it had set in motion, however, remained until a nationwide recession set in toward the end of 1920.
Despite the huge number of 1919-S cents issued, this date is rare in fully red, gem condition. The dies were used way beyond the point at which they would have been retired during the pre-war period, and there were in 1919 very few collectors of Lincoln Cents to preserve the best pieces. What has survived to the present day has done so randomly.
The San Francisco Mint went though 220 dies during Fiscal Year 1919, and it's clear from the resulting coins that more were needed.
Mintage:
| Philadelphia | Denver | San Francisco |
| 392,021,000 | 57,154,000 | 139,760,000 |