Indian Head Penny
Learn More About U.S. Indian Head Cents (1859-1909)
Indian Head Penny Mint Mark
The Indian Head penny has long been a popular coin among coin collectors due to the historical significance of its era. The 1864-L, 1877, 1908-S, and 1909-S represent some of the most sought-after years by collectors. The Indian Head was the replacement penny for the Flying Eagle, which was only struck from 1856-1858 due to design flaws. Like the Flying Eagle, the Indian Head was designed by James Longacre, a chief engraver of the U.S. Mint. The Indian Head penny features an Indian head that faces to the left wearing a feather bonnet. The coin’s reverse side shows “ONE CENT” with a laurel wreath. The wreath was changed slightly in 1860 to include three arrows and a shield of the United States. According to the U.S. Department of the Treasury, over 1.8 billion Indian Cent pieces were minted. The composition of these coins evolved from 88% copper 12% nickel (1859-1864) to 95% copper 5% tin and zinc (1864-1909).
1859-1864 Indian Head Cents Copper Nickel Culls. 1859-1864 Indian Head Cents Copper-Nickel Avg Circ. Indian Head Penny History. The origins of the Indian Head Penny can be traced back to the days when the Large-Cent coin was the only one in circulation. These coins were first minted in 1793, but faced immediate problems seeing as the US government would not allow any metals other than silver and gold to be used as legal tender. The Indian Head was the replacement penny for the Flying Eagle, which was only struck from 1856-1858 due to design flaws. Like the Flying Eagle, the Indian Head was designed by James Longacre, a chief engraver of the U.S. The Indian Head penny features an Indian head that faces to the left wearing a feather bonnet. The coin’s reverse.
Indian Head Penny 1907
How much is an Indian Head penny worth? Contact our expert numismatists at 1-800-965-2646.