Indian Head Cent

The Indian Head Cent was actually the second type of “small cent” struck by the United States Mint. The Indian Head cent (1859-1909) followed the three-year run of the Flying Eagle cent, struck from 1856 to 1858.

Specifications

 * Designer: James B. Longacre
 * Obverse Design: Lady Liberty
 * Reverse Design: Wreath/Wreath w/ Shield
 * Edge: Plain
 * Weight: 72 grains (4.67 grams)
 * Diameter: 19 millimeters
 * Composition: Copper (88%)-Nickel (12%) (1859-1864) and Copper (100%) (1864-1909)
 * Dates Minted: 1859-1909

Background
The public really got its first look at the copper-nickel Flying Eagle cents in 1857, since the 1856 output was extremely scant. But in 1857, the new small cents with the flying eagle design hit the streets in droves, and they were a hit with the U.S. public. The new small cents were much handier to use and carry than previous cumbersome large cents. But though the Flying Eagle cents were popular, they were discontinued after 1858, possibly due to the low relief design which tended to wear down quickly. So in 1859, a new kind of small cent appeared: the Indian Head cent. This cent featured a feminine-looking Miss Liberty wearing an Indian headdress with a “Liberty” ribbon, with a reverse design of a wreath inside which were the words “One Cent.”

From 1859 through 1864, the Indian Head cents were made of copper-nickel. These copper-nickel cents are somewhat thick and have a somewhat mustard-yellow appearance. Despite an output of copper-nickel Indian Head cents in 1864, the composition of the cent was changed that same year to pure copper. Consequently, 1864 Indian Head cents are found in copper-nickel AND pure copper, the only year in the series where cents appear in two different forms of metal composition.

The Indian Head cent would maintain its copper composition, weight, and size for the duration of its run through 1909. From the beginning, Indian Head cents were struck in large numbers. In 1859, the first year of issue for the Indian Head cent, there were over 36 million struck. In most years, the Indian Head cent was struck in the tens of millions, with a high of over 108 million in 1907. That doesn’t mean there aren’t some scarce dates in the Indian Head cent series. Most of the scarcer dates are from the late 1860's through the 1870's.

A case in point is the 1877 Indian Head cent, where “only” 852,000 were struck. Now, compared to U.S. cent mintages of the early 1800's, a mintage of 852,000 is a pretty healthy number. But in a more modern industrial-age United States, and compared with the tens of millions of Indian cents struck in most other years, the 1877 mintage is pretty minuscule. Due to its low output, the 1877 Indian Head cent is considered THE key to the series, and demand from collectors who collect Indian Head cents by date drives up prices on this date. Even an average circulated example will retail around $500.

Only two dates in the Indian Head cent series have mintmarks, in addition to the regular Philadelphia mint cents (which do not carry mintmarks). The San Francisco mint struck Indian Head cents in 1908 and 1909. Both the 1908-s and the 1909-s Indian Head cents are scarce coins: only a little over 1 million 1908-s cents were struck, and only 309,000 1909-s cents were struck! That makes the 1909-s the rarest of all Indian Head cents, though demand is still higher for the 1877.

As mentioned before, the Indian Head cent series is a popular one, and many collect Indian cents by date. It’s easy to see why– you can get a large run of dates for just a few dollars apiece, and that includes the early copper-nickel Indian cents! But in addition to collecting by date (which would be all dates 1859-1909 and including the 1908-s and 1909-s), there are also interesting mini subsets, or series, to collect.

1859 Indian Head Cent
The 1859 Indian Head Cent is a winner on a few counts. Not only is it the first year of issue for the entire Indian Head cent series, but it’s ALSO the only Indian Head cent struck in the 1850's. But even more importantly, this date is considered a one-year type due to its reverse design: a skinny wreath that is clearly distinctive from the thick, bushy wreath of all Indian cents of 1860-1909!

1859-1864 Copper-Nickel Indian Head Cents
A very interesting and do-able subset of the Indian Head series. Only six coins gives you a complete set of the distinctive (and thicker) copper-nickel Indian Head cents of 1859-1864. Only two of the dates, 1861 and 1864, are somewhat of a challenge to track down.

1864 Indian Head Cents
As mentioned before, there were two distinct types of Indian Head cents struck in 1864: the thick mustard-colored copper-nickel 1864 cent, and the thinner, pure copper 1864 cent from later in that year. The copper-nickel type will be your greater challenge, but they can still be found for around $25 in average circulated shape. Actually, specialists will say that you need a THIRD type for your 1864 Indian Head cent subset: some of the 1864 copper cents feature a tiny “L” on the lower part of the headdress ribbon (stands for ‘Longacre,’ the designer of the Indian Head cent). These “L” ribbon 1864 cents are quite scarce and costly.

1864-1909 Indian Head Cents
These are all the purely copper Indian Head cents.

S-Mint Indian Head Cents
Only a two-coin set, but an expensive one! It will cost around $400 to obtain these two sought-after Indian Head sets of 1908 and 1909 even in low average circulated condition!

1909 Indian Head Cent & 1909 Lincoln Cent
Ok, this isn’t actually a strictly Indian Head cent subset, but it is an interesting coupling. How often do you see two different designs of the same denomination, bearing the same date, nowdays? Of course, if you insist on getting all mintmarks and varieties of both the 1909 Indian cent and the 1909 Lincoln cent, then you have a VERY expensive five-coin set here. But if you stick to strictly the Indian and Lincoln cents of the Philadelphia mint (again, no mintmark) then both types of 1909 cents can be purchased for under $10 in decent circulated shape.

Dates of Interest

 * Scarce/Expensive: 1877, 1908-s, 1909-s, 1864 (with ‘L’ on ribbon)
 * Tough Dates: 1866-72, 1878
 * A bit more of a challenge: 1861, 1864 (copper-nickel), 1873-76, 1879, 1885
 * Common: 1859, 1860, 1862, 1863, 1864 (copper), all dates 1880-1909 (except possibly 1885)

Grading
A key thing to look for when determining the condition of an Indian Head cent is whether you can read the word "LIBERTY" on the headdress ribbon? If you can easily read it in full, that's a general sign that you have a high-grade Indian Head cent ---one that is at least "Fine." If you can only see a few letters of 'LIBERTY' then your cent probably grades either a Low Fine or Very Good. If you cannot read 'LIBERTY' at all, then your cent grades GOOD or below.

Most Indian Head cents did a lot of circulating, so finding one in a nice FINE or higher isn't all that easy. Still, the common dates are not all that expensive, even in near mint-state grades. That's good news for the collector, who can own a 100 year old Indian cent in virtually uncirculated condition, for around $30!

Mints

 * Philadelphia Mint (no mintmark)
 * San Francisco Mint (S mintmark)