The Indian Head cent is one of the most iconic and widely collected United States coins, produced for a full half-century from 1859 through 1909. Designed by James B. Longacre, the obverse portrays Liberty wearing a Native American headdress.
After the Flying Eagle cent was struck for circulation only two years (1857 and 1858), striking difficulties led to Longacre’s new design in 1859. In the first year, no shield appeared above the laurel wreath on the reverse; in 1860 a shield was added and the wreath was changed to oak leaves.
Until the middle of 1864 a copper-nickel composition of 75% copper and 25% nickel was used. In 1864 the alloy changed to bronze (95% copper, 5% tin and zinc), and a small “L” (for Longacre) was added to the ribbon below the portrait. Though thinner and lighter, the bronze cents were readily accepted, and the design continued almost unchanged until 1909. The only notable modification came in 1886, when the lowest feather in the headdress was adjusted to point between the “CA” of AMERICA rather than the “IC” seen earlier.
Indian cents were struck in Philadelphia exclusively until 1908, when the San Francisco Mint also began production; some 1908 and 1909 cents carry an “S” mintmark below the wreath. Those San Francisco issues, along with the 1871, 1872, and 1877 dates and several overdates and doubled dies, are the keys to the series — with the 1877 and 1909-S being the most famous rarities. As with most 19th-century coins, even common dates can be worth hundreds of dollars in high grade.
Design types within the series:
- Type 1 — Laurel Wreath (1859)
- Type 2 — Oak Wreath, Copper-Nickel (1860–1864)
- Type 3 — Bronze (1864–1909)
We are active buyers of Indian Head cents, from common circulated dates to key dates and high-grade examples. Send photos for a free, no-obligation offer.