1928-S cents were widely hoarded from circulation, with the result that ones grading VF and lower are quite common. Mint State survivors are moderately scarce across all grades, but a few rolls survived long enough to be saved when the hoarded of uncirculated rolls began to catch on in the mid 1930s.
Fully red gems are quite rare, due to a combination of toning, spotting and less than satisfying strikes. As is seemingly always true of copper/bronze coins, the most sharply struck examples tend to tone more readily than the mushy ones, and the surviving population of 1928-S cents adheres to this pattern.
Late in the year 1928, dies for the cent, dime, quarter dollar and half dollar were shipped to San Francisco bearing a large, heavy mintmark of a style not seen in decades. Circulated 1928 Large S cents are slightly scarce, while Mint State pieces are very scarce and carry a substantial premium.
Mintage:
| Philadelphia | Denver | San Francisco |
| 134,116,000 | 31,170,000 | 17,266,000 |