Jeff Garrett:The mintage for this San Francisco issue soared after a slow start in 1908. The date can be found easily in all grades thru MS 65. In Gem condition, however, the 1909-S is very rare. Less than two dozen are known above MS 66. It is quite underrated in Gem condition. Most examples seen are well struck, but bag marks plague most examples. Several thousand were found in South American bank vaults. Most were distributed through a coin company (MTB) in New York City in the 1980s.