Indian Head Cents

The Flying Eagle Cent lasted only a couple of years in regular production.  The coin's design element layout caused metal flow problems while striking.  Several attempts were made to remedy the complication, but to no avail. The Indian Head Cent was released in 1859, made of 88% copper and 12% nickel, just as was the Flying Eagle Cent.  The metal in the cent was worth approximately the same as its face value, something the US Mint thought was of critical importance at the time. Curiously, the woman modeling the Indian wasn't a Native American at all.  She was the daughter of James Longacre, the Mint Engraver who created the Indian Head cent design. US Coin Values Advisor has completed Coin Value Tables™ for the Indian Head Cent, reporting price trends over a long period of time for individual coins of this series.  The copper nickel composition is exemplified directly below:   Indian Head Cent Copper-Nickel Specifications Diameter: Weight: Minted: Composition: Designer Edge: 19.0 mm 4.67 g 1859-1864 .120 Ni .880 Cu James Longacre Plain Coin Photos courtesy of Ira & Larry Goldberg Coins & Collectibles, Inc., Beverly Hills, CA. In 1862 and 1863, uncertainty over the outcome of the Civil War led to the hoarding of all coins, including the copper-nickel cent. In their place, millions of cent-sized tokens issued by private means helped the public to conduct everyday business transactions.  Most of the Civil War tokens were composed of bronze (95% copper, 5% tin and zinc), and often featured patriotic or advertising themes.  The tokens were quickly absorbed into the fabric of American commerce, despite the fact that the intrinsic value of the bronze metal was a far less than one cent.  What's more, the metallurgic properties of bronze made it much easier to mint into coinage than the copper-nickel material. U.S. Mint Director James Pollock noted the benefits of bronze coinage in his annual report of 1863: ... Whilst people expect a full value in their gold and silver coins, they merely want the inferior money for convenience in making exact payments and not at all for the value of copper, tin, or nickel which may be present... even if its intrinsic should be only one-tenth of its nominal and legal value. Legislation was introduced in Congress, and the bronze cent became a reality  with the Coinage Act of April 22, 1864.  The thickness of the new small cent was considerably less than its copper-nickel predecessor, while reducing the coin’s weight by about a third.  The new thickness and copper color resulted in a one cent coin very similar in appearance to the penny we recognize today.  An example of the bronze cent is seen at bottom. The Indian Head cent was a mainstay of U.S. coinage until 1909, when it gave way to the Lincoln cent.  Since then, the Indian Head cent has been extremely popular with coin collectors.  There are just a few key dates that dominate the series.  These are the Indian Head Cents that have received the most attention  in the past, and are most likely to remain the most popular in the future: 1877 1908-S 1909-S Key date Indian Head Cents are offered for sale below.  The left hand side of each "Sales Box" is value trend data over a very long period of time for a coin of that date in Good-4 condition.  The percent annual increase is computed for comparative purposes.  The coin pictured for sale in the right hand side is not necessarily the same condition coin or same variety as that represented in the value trend analysis on left hand side.  Click the "View All" link to see more selections. 1877 Indian Head Cent Condition: G-4     1908-S Indian Head Cent Condition: G-4   Value Trends 1950:  $9.00 1980:  $225 1995:  $310 2002:  $475 2007:  $850 Value Trends 1950:  $1.75 1980:  $20.00 1995:  $22.50 2002:  $40.00 2007:  $75.00 % Annual Increase Since 1950  = 8.31% % Annual Increase Since 1950  = 8.41% 1909-S Indian Head Cent Condition: G-4   Value Trends 1950:  $9.50 1980:  $75 1995:  $175 2002:  $225 2007:  $475 % Annual Increase Since 1950  = 7.10%
	Half Cents 1793-1857
	Large Cents 1793-1857
	Flying Eagle Cents 1856-1858
	Indian Head Cents 1859-1909
	Lincoln Cents 1909-present
	Two and Three Cents 1851-1889
	Shield Nickels 1866-1883
	Liberty Nickels 1883-1913
	Buffalo Nickels 1913-1938
	Jefferson Nickels 1938-present
	Early Half Dimes 1792-1837
	Seated Liberty Half Dimes 1837-1873
	Early Dimes 1796-1837
	Seated Liberty Dimes 1837-1891
	Barber Dimes 1892-1916
	Mercury Dimes 1916-1945
	Roosevelt Dimes 1946-present
	Twenty Cents 1875-1878
	Early Quarters 1796-1838
	Seated Liberty Quarters 1838-1891
	Barber Quarters 1892-1916
	Standing Liberty Quarters 1916-1930
	Washington Quarters 1932-present
	Early Half Dollars 1794-1839
	Seated Liberty Half Dollars 1839-1891
	Barber Half Dollars 1892-1915
	Walking Liberty Half Dollars 1916-1947
	Franklin Half Dollars 1948-1963
	Kennedy Half Dollars 1964-Present
	Early Dollars 1794-1804
	Gobrecht Dollars 1836-1839
	Seated Liberty Dollars 1840-1873
	Trade Dollars 1873-1885
	Morgan Dollars 1878-1921
	Peace Dollars 1921-1935
	Eisenhower Dollars 1971-1978
	Anthony Dollars 1979-1981,1999
	Sacagawea Dollars 2000-present
	Presidential Dollars 2007-present
	Gold Dollars 1849-1889
	Early Quarter Eagles 1796-1834
	Classic Head Quarter Eagles 1834-1839
	Coronet Quarter Eagles 1840-1907
	Indian Head Quarter Eagles 1908-1929
	Three Dollar Gold 1854-1889
	Early Half Eagles 1795-1834
	Classic Head Half Eagles 1834-1838
	Coronet Half Eagles 1839-1908
	Indian Head Half Eagles 1908-1929
	Early Eagles 1795-1804
	Coronet Eagles 1838-1907
	Indian Head Eagles 1907-1933
	Coronet Double Eagles 1849-1907
	St-Gaudens Double Eagles 1907-1933
	The world's first commercial oil well was drilled in Titusville, PA in 1859.  Oil operator Edwin L. Drake (in top hat) poses in front of his historic well in 1861. Drake's well was drilled to 69 feet and flowed 40 BOPD.  This was actually the second derrick and engine house - the originals burned down in 1859. Drake was a former railroad conductor whose discovery gave birth to the oil industry.            Image courtesy of Library of Congress.

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