Indian Head Cent Coin Profile

The true heir to the early American copper Large cent is the Indian Head cent. Briefly preceding the series, the short-lived set of Flying Eagle cents minted during 1857 and 1858 was plagued by problems, both during the actual minting process and in the unevenly struck specimens often produced. It was with the Indian Head cent that America became accustomed to a small-sized coin of a copper alloy. The Civil War, starting soon after the first Indian Head cents began circulating, was an early test. After surviving the shortage of small change during the war years, Indian Head cents would soon represent an integral unit of commerce during the rest of the nineteenth century. A customer could have purchased a slew of items with just a few cents. During the year 1909, the Lincoln cent would replace this series that ran for half a century.

The first Indian Head cents were of a different composition than later issues. Coins minted between the years 1859 and part of 1864 were composed of eighty-eight percent copper and twelve percent nickel. Later coins minted in 1864 through those minted until 1909 consisted of ninety-five percent copper and five percent tin and zinc. Both issues had a diameter of three-quarters of an inch, but the first nickel-alloy Indian Head cents were thicker and heavier, weighing 4.67 grams instead of 3.11 grams.

The key date in the Indian Head cent series is undoubtedly the 1877 issue, already considered rare while these coins were still circulating in the early twentieth century. Low-grade or damaged pieces are available to some extent, but attractive examples of higher quality are difficult to obtain. The 1909-S Indian is a low mintage date commanding substantial premiums, though it remains secondary to the 1877 in terms of value and desirability. Some post-Civil War dates, particularly 1869 through 1872, produced coins that are considered semi-keys. Several popular varieties are noted for this series. The 1869/69 had formally been considered the most significant, even earning its own spot in most popular coin albums. More recently, it has just been considered a desirable repunched date and one of several designated as a major variety; others include the 1867/67 and the 1894/94. The 1867/67 is the most dramatic of the three. The 1864-L is usually collected as part of the regular date-mint series and is not considered a variety at all.

Every date from 1879 through the end of the series, save for the S-minted pieces, is easily obtainable in circulated condition. Many earlier coins, including the semi-key dates, are challenging in higher grades, yet reasonably easy to collect in well-circulated conditions. It is not uncommon to find collections for sale lacking only the 1877 and 1909-S. Strike is not generally an issue with this series. Though weakly struck examples are sometimes encountered, no particular date is consistently poor, warranting special attention. 1909-S (curiously, not 1877) is the only date for which inauthentic coins appear regularly.

Image Courtesy of Professional Coin Grading Service (PCGS.com).

Click on any grey box below to highlight aspects of the primary image

Primary Obverse Devices:
The obverse depicts a personification of Liberty, shown here as a woman with Caucasian features wearing an Indian headdress, typically worn only by men. The combination was thought to embody freedom by matching Liberty's inherent qualities with a symbol associated with uninhibited independence. Liberty also wears a pearl necklace and a headband with ribbon ends adorned with images of diamonds. Her headband has the word "Liberty" written on it.

Date, Mintmark, and Designer Initials:
One may find the coin's date at the bottom of the obverse at the six o'clock position. Indian Head cents were minted every year from 1859 until 1909. The mintmark is similarly located at, or ever-so-slightly to the right of, the six o'clock position on the reverse. Coins were minted yearly at the Philadelphia Mint, and these do not bear a mintmark. In the years 1908 and 1909, S-minted coins were minted at the San Francisco branch mint. During the year 1864, an "L" was added to the obverse representing designer James Barton Longacre. Earlier coins dated 1864 do not show the letter. The "L" can be found on top of Liberty's hair curls between the ribbon end and the last headdress feather.

Primary Reverse Devices:
Indian Head cents underwent a change in reverse design after the first year of issuance (see below). The design featured for most of the series depicts an oak wreath. Wrapped by a ribbon at the six o'clock position, this oak wreath includes olive leaves to the left and three arrows to the right. One might also notice several acorns scattered amidst the oak leaves and a least one olive fruit intermixed in the olive leaves.

Mottoes:
The only motto included on every Indian Head cent is the word "Liberty," which is found on the headband worn by Liberty on the obverse. This represents the spirit of freedom, especially freedom from political oppression, and has been an American theme since the country's founding.

Other Secondary Devices:
On coins struck from 1860 onwards, the oak wreath reverse design was divided at the top by a shield. This shield is a version of a federal shield, a symbol common in nineteenth-century America and often associated with the events surrounding a federal election.

Country and Denomination:
The coin's denomination is prominent on its reverse, and the country of origin rounds most of the obverse next to the rim.

The design change after the year 1859

The first year of the Indian Head cent was minted with a different reverse design than that described in the section above. While the alterations do not significantly change the way the coins are graded, the differences are noteworthy enough to warrant a brief discussion. The federal shield is absent on coins dated 1859. The oak wreath reverse common to the rest of the series replaced one that featured a more basic laurel wreath design. The additional material banded together by the ribbon at the wreath's base on coins dated 1860 and onwards is non-existent on the reverse of 1859. An example of the reverse design from 1859 can be seen in the accompanying image.