Indian Head Pennies
Ranked #10,528 in Hobbies, Games & Toys, #142,448 overall
How Much Are Indian Head Cents Worth?
The Indian Head cent, or Indian Head Penny, was designed by James Barton Longacre and his design began being used on the one cent piece in 1859 replacing the Flying Eagle cent and continued until 1909 when they were replaced by the Lincoln Wheat design. The design is a stylized image of Liberty wearing a native american headdress facing left, encircled by the words "United States of America" with the date at the bottom. It was minted primarily by the main mint in Philadelphia although a small number were produced by the San Francisco mint in 1908 and 1909.
For the first year in 1859, the reverse of the Indian Head cent showed the denomination "one cent" inside a laurel wreath. In 1860, the laurel wreath was changed to an oak wreath which seemed to be more authoritative. A heraldic shield was added at the top and a bundle of arrows at the bottom.
The Indian Head penny used the same copper and nickel material as the Flying Eagle cent design it replaced until 1864. At that time the coins became lighter with the removal of the nickel and the addition of tin and zinc.
Although there are slight variations in design, the images remained virtually the same (excluding the obvious change on the reverse after the first year) until the coin ceased production in 1909.
Copper Indian Head Cent
Bronze Indian Head Cent
Dates: 1859-1864
Dates: 1864-1909
Mint Mark: none (Philadelphia)
Mint Mark: none (Philadelphia),
S (San Francisco) 1908, 1909 only
Composition: 88% copper, 12% nickel
Composition: 95% copper, 5% tin and zinc
Weight: 4.67 grams
Weight: 3.11 grams
Diameter: 19 mm
Diameter: 19 mm
Edge: plain
Edge: plain
Designer: James B. Longacre
Designer: James B. Longacre
The 1859 Indian Head Penny Reverse
When it debuted in 1859, the Indian penny had no shield or arrows on the reverse althought from 1860 until production ceased in 1909 it did have both shield and arrows, making the 1859 issue somewhat unique. The words "ONE CENT" were encircled by a garland wreath tied with a ribbon at the bottom.
1860 Indian Head Penny
Beginning in 1860 the reverse of the Indian Head penny began featuring a shield at the top and a bundle of arrows at the bottom. Also, the laurel wreath was replaced by an oak wreath which remained permanent features of the coin for the remainder of it's production.
The shield actually looks somewhat similar to the design used on the Lincoln Shield penny introduced in 2010.
Indian Head Pennies on eBay
Usually there are thousands of auctions on eBay featuring Indian Head Pennies dating from 1859 until 1909 and there are many great deals if you know where to look. Here are just a few. You are of course not obligated to buy anything and window shopping is encouraged.
You might find that elusive 1877 Indian Head Cent you have been looking for to complete your set or you can look at some if you are just starting to collect Indian Head coins. There are always great coin values on eBay and could spend all day finding cool coins if I let myself.
Indian Head Pennies Mintages
Description
Number Minted
36,400,000
1860 Indian Head Cent
20,566,000
1861 Indian Head Cent
10,100,000
1862 Indian Head Cent
28,075,000
1863 Indian Head Cent
49,840,000
1864 Copper-Nickel Indian Head Cent
13,740,000
1864 Bronze Indian Head Cent
39,233,714
1864-L Indian Head Cent
Included in Above
1865 Indian Head Cent
35,429,286
1866 Indian Head Cent
9,286,500
1867 Indian Head Cent
9,821,000
1868 Indian Head Cent
10,266,500
1869 Indian Head Cent
6,420,000
1870 Indian Head Cent
5,275,000
1871 Indian Head Cent
3,929,500
1872 Indian Head Cent
4,042,000
1873 Indian Head Cent
11,676,500
1874 Indian Head Cent
14,187,500
1875 Indian Head Cent
13,528,000
1876 Indian Head Cent
7,944,000
852,500 RARE!
1878 Indian Head Cent
5,797,500
1879 Indian Head Cent
16,228,000
1880 Indian Head Cent
38,961,000
1881 Indian Head Cent
39,208,000
1882 Indian Head Cent
38,578,000
1883 Indian Head Cent
45,591,500
1884 Indian Head Cent
23,257,800
Description
Number Minted
1885 Indian Head Cent
11,761,594
1886 Indian Head Cent
17,650,000
1887 Indian Head Cent
45,223,523
1888 Indian Head Cent
37,489,832
1889 Indian Head Cent
48,866,025
1890 Indian Head Cent
57,180,114
1891 Indian Head Cent
47,070,000
1892 Indian Head Cent
37,647,087
1893 Indian Head Cent
46,640,000
1894 Indian Head Cent
16,749,500
1895 Indian Head Cent
38,341,474
1896 Indian Head Cent
39,055,431
1897 Indian Head Cent
50,464,392
1898 Indian Head Cent
49,821,284
1899 Indian Head Cent
53,598,000
1900 Indian Head Cent
66,831,502
1901 Indian Head Cent
79,609,158
1902 Indian Head Cent
87,374,704
1903 Indian Head Cent
85,092,703
1904 Indian Head Cent
61,326,198
1905 Indian Head Cent
80,717,011
1906 Indian Head Cent
96,020,530
1907 Indian Head Cent
108,137,143
1908 Indian Head Cent
32,326,367
1908-S Indian Head Cent
1,115,000 Scarce
1909 Indian Head Cent
14,368,470
309,000 RARE!
Coin Catalogs
More Recent News About Indian Head Cents
- 1902 Indian Cent Craze
- With a mintage of nearly 90 million, the 1902 Indian Head cent could hardly be considered rare. But in 1903, newspapers reported there was a "craze" for 1902 cents. Many people hoarded them in the hope they would increase in value.
- Stack's Bowers Galleries to Offer Part I of the Teich Family Collection During the Official Baltimore Auction in November
- The story of how this collection was started is a delight to share. In 1952, while on a family vacation with his wife and three sons, a single Indian Head cent carried by Dr. Samuel Teich fell to the ground and rolled under the counter in view of the owner of a simple rustic motel. This was a magical moment...
- Indian head cent 1865 with Longacre´s L initial
- Looks like one of Longacre´s signed obverse dies had a chance to combine with a 1865 reverse die.
- Coin Collecting and the Indian Head Cent
- At some point in our childhood, most of us have had a curiosity about coins or have maybe even collected them as a hobby. there is a special joy that comes from hunting through rolls and rolls of coins, looking for that rare hidden treasure...
- Indian Head Copper-Nickel Cents 1859-1864 Coin Guide
- The Indian Head Copper-Nickel Cents had been minted from 1859 to 1864. Lots of coins have these critical subsets and this really is one of many most vital in background on account of the era. They are Civil War Era pennies and people having an curiosity in Civil War Era memorabilia...
Indian Head Error Coins
One interesting variety that attracts many coin collectors is error coins. these are coins that have a number of errors made when the mint was producing the coins. The link below will take you to images of dozens of different Indian Head penny errors from off-center strikes to double strikes. One of the most amazing examples is the Indian Head penny that resembles a little copper bowl.
- Indian Head Error Coins
- The is a link to some of Xan Chamberlain's Indian Head double strikes and error coins. Dozens of great pictures of errors coins.
Some Rare Indian Head Pennies
by Bradshaw
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