Design and Specifications of the Indian Cent

The Indian Head Cent was introduced in 1859 as a replacement for the Flying Eagle Cent. It was designed to address striking issues with the previous design and became a popular and long-running series in American coinage. The coin’s design, featuring Lady Liberty in a Native American headdress, was meant to symbolize America but has been criticized for cultural appropriation in modern times.
Weight 3.11 grams (1859-1864); 3.11 grams (1864-1909)
Diameter 19 mm
Mint Marks No mint marks used; all were minted in Philadelphia
Composition 88% copper, 12% nickel (1859-1864); 95% copper, 5% tin and zinc (1864-1909)
Obverse Design Profile of Lady Liberty wearing a Native American headdress, designed by James Barton Longacre
Reverse Design Laurel wreath surrounding the words 'ONE CENT' (1859-1864), Oak wreath with shield (1864-1909), designed by James Barton Longacre
Years of Minting 1859-1909

Collectibility and Rare Varieties

The condition of Indian Head Cents greatly impacts their value, with well-preserved examples commanding significant premiums. Errors such as doubled dies (particularly the 1873 Doubled LIBERTY) and off-center strikes can increase rarity and value. The 1888/7 overdate is also a notable variety sought by collectors.
1872 4,042,000 minted; considered scarce in higher grades
1877 852,500 minted; one of the key dates in the series due to low mintage
1864 L Unknown mintage; features Longacre's initial 'L' on the ribbon and is considered rare
1909-S 309,000 minted; the only Indian Head Cent minted in San Francisco and the lowest mintage of the series

Explore Indian Cent Values by Year

1859 1860 1861 1862 1863 1864 1865 1866 1867 1868 1869 1870 1871 1872 1873 1874 1875 1876 1877 1878 1879 1880 1881 1882 1883 1884 1885 1886 1887 1888 1889 1890 1891 1892 1893 1894 1895 1896 1897 1898 1899 1900 1901 1902 1903 1904 1905 1906 1907 1908 1909

Most Valuable Indian Cent

This section highlights the most valuable coins in the series, based on PCGS price guides. The table shows price ranges for each coin in various conditions.

Coin Name Circulated Price Uncirculated Price
1902 Penny, BN (Regular Strike) $1.00 – $47.00 –
1906 Penny, RD (Regular Strike) – $70.00 – $24,000.00
1859 Penny (Regular Strike) $18.00 – $400.00 –
1900 Penny, BN (Regular Strike) $1.00 – $62.00 –
1907 Penny, BN (Regular Strike) $1.00 – $50.00 –
1905 Penny, BN (Regular Strike) $1.00 – $44.00 –
1864 Penny L on Ribbon, BN (Regular Strike) $50.00 – $455.00 –
1903 Penny, RB (Regular Strike) – $60.00 – $1,250.00
1877 Penny, BN (Regular Strike) $385.00 – $4,400.00 –
1899 Penny, BN (Regular Strike) $4.00 – $52.00 –
1908-S Penny, BN (Regular Strike) $48.00 – $335.00 –
1906 Penny, BN (Regular Strike) $2.00 – $38.00 –
1901 Penny, BN (Regular Strike) $1.00 – $42.00 –
1909-S Penny Indian, BN (Regular Strike) $250.00 – $1,375.00 –
1904 Penny, BN (Regular Strike) $1.00 – $40.00 –
1863 Penny (Regular Strike) $8.00 – $155.00 –
1892 Penny, BN (Regular Strike) $4.00 – $68.00 –
1908 Penny, BN (Regular Strike) $1.00 – $50.00 –
1883 Penny, RD (Regular Strike) – $100.00 – $36,000.00
1888/7 Penny, BN (Regular Strike) $1,100.00 – $34,000.00 –
1895 Penny, BN (Regular Strike) $1.00 – $80.00 –
1909 Penny Indian, RD (Regular Strike) – $75.00 – $15,000.00
1893 Penny, RD (Regular Strike) – $100.00 – $32,000.00
1887 Penny, RD (Regular Strike) – $90.00 – $35,000.00
1898 Penny, BN (Regular Strike) $6.00 – $65.00 –
1897 Penny, BN (Regular Strike) $2.00 – $65.00 –
1896 Penny, BN (Regular Strike) $1.00 – $62.00 –
1890 Penny, RD (Regular Strike) – $100.00 – $95,000.00
1865 Penny Fancy 5, BN (Regular Strike) $8.00 – $165.00 –
1889 Penny, BN (Regular Strike) $2.00 – $78.00 –
1884 Penny, BN (Regular Strike) $5.00 – $90.00 –
1881 Penny, BN (Regular Strike) $3.00 – $76.00 –
1904 Penny, RD (Regular Strike) – $65.00 – $10,000.00
1891 Penny, BN (Regular Strike) $4.00 – $70.00 –
1894 Penny, BN (Regular Strike) $5.00 – $100.00 –
1860 Penny (Regular Strike) $10.00 – $225.00 –
1861 Penny (Regular Strike) $15.00 – $275.00 –
1880 Penny, BN (Regular Strike) $5.00 – $84.00 –
1864 Penny Bronze, BN (Regular Strike) $10.00 – $205.00 –
1882 Penny, BN (Regular Strike) $2.00 – $105.00 –
1862 Penny (Regular Strike) $12.00 – $155.00 –
1877 Penny, BN (Proof) $1,650.00 – $2,675.00 –
1886 Penny Variety 2, RD (Regular Strike) – $500.00 – $22,500.00
1868 Penny, BN (Regular Strike) $26.00 – $460.00 –
1879 Penny, BN (Regular Strike) $10.00 – $135.00 –
1865 Penny Plain 5, BN (Regular Strike) $14.00 – $230.00 –
1885 Penny, RD (Regular Strike) – $130.00 – $7,750.00
1909-S Penny Indian, RD (Regular Strike) – $1,500.00 – $58,500.00
1867 Penny, BN (Regular Strike) $32.00 – $320.00 –
1872 Penny, BN (Regular Strike) $60.00 – $810.00 –
1871 Penny, BN (Regular Strike) $22.00 – $760.00 –
1874 Penny, BN (Regular Strike) $20.00 – $225.00 –
1870 Penny, RD (Regular Strike) – $800.00 – $26,000.00
1875 Penny, BN (Regular Strike) $15.00 – $275.00 –
1892 Penny, RD (Proof) – $240.00 – $6,500.00
1893 Penny, BN (Regular Strike) $4.00 – $52.00 –
1866 Penny, RD (Regular Strike) – $450.00 – $18,000.00
1869 Penny, BN (Regular Strike) $70.00 – $890.00 –
1873 Penny Open 3, BN (Regular Strike) $35.00 – $340.00 –
1876 Penny, BN (Regular Strike) $28.00 – $315.00 –
1888 Penny, BN (Regular Strike) $8.00 – $115.00 –
1907 Penny, RD (Regular Strike) – $60.00 – $65,000.00
1863 Penny (Proof) – $375.00 – $16,000.00
1878 Penny, RD (Regular Strike) – $425.00 – $17,500.00
1866 Penny, BN (Regular Strike) $32.00 – $390.00 –
1869/69 Penny RPD FS-301, S-3, BN (Regular Strike) $165.00 – $1,075.00 –
1903 Penny, RB (Proof) – $150.00 – $7,500.00
1867/67 Penny, BN (Regular Strike) $65.00 – $1,475.00 –
1886 Penny Variety 1, BN (Regular Strike) $8.00 – $255.00 –
1864 Penny L On Ribbon, BN (Proof) $8,250.00 – $8,500.00 –
1860 Penny Pointed Bust (Regular Strike) $20.00 – $375.00 –
1890 Penny, BN (Regular Strike) $2.00 – $75.00 –
1881 Penny, BN (Proof) – $150.00 – $3,500.00
1908-S Penny, RB (Regular Strike) – $400.00 – $6,250.00
1899 Penny, BN (Proof) – $100.00 – $1,200.00
1900 Penny, RD (Proof) – $185.00 – $15,000.00
1880 Penny, BN (Proof) – $175.00 – $3,000.00
1864 Penny Copper-Nickel (Regular Strike) $14.00 – $250.00 –
1873 Penny Closed 3, BN (Regular Strike) $30.00 – $440.00 –
1903 Penny, BN (Regular Strike) $1.00 – $48.00 –
1864 Penny L on Ribbon, RD (Regular Strike) – $550.00 – $65,000.00
1885 Penny, BN (Regular Strike) $8.00 – $120.00 –
1882 Penny, BN (Proof) – $150.00 – $3,150.00
1895 Penny, BN (Proof) – $150.00 – $1,450.00
1889 Penny, BN (Proof) – $90.00 – $2,000.00
1902 Penny, RB (Regular Strike) – $55.00 – $1,050.00
1876 Penny, RD (Proof) – $225.00 – $3,250.00
1884 Penny, BN (Proof) – $160.00 – $3,000.00
1874 Penny, RD (Regular Strike) – $275.00 – $22,500.00
1883 Penny, BN (Regular Strike) $5.00 – $85.00 –
1887 Penny, BN (Regular Strike) $3.00 – $64.00 –
1901 Penny, RD (Regular Strike) – $60.00 – $33,500.00
1905 Penny, RD (Regular Strike) – $60.00 – $17,000.00
1859 Penny (Proof) – $875.00 – $18,000.00
1879 Penny, BN (Proof) – $150.00 – $1,800.00
1869/69 Penny RPD FS-303 S-4, BN (Regular Strike) $100.00 – $915.00 –
1871 Penny, RD (Regular Strike) – $800.00 – $38,500.00
1872 Penny, RD (Regular Strike) – $750.00 – $55,000.00
1884 Penny, RB (Regular Strike) – $100.00 – $5,000.00
1899 Penny, RD (Regular Strike) – $60.00 – $125,000.00
1903 Penny, RD (Regular Strike) – $70.00 – $20,000.00
1864 Penny Copper Nickel (Proof) – $425.00 – $19,500.00
1888/7 Penny, RB (Regular Strike) – $80,000.00 – $90,000.00
1896 Penny, RB (Proof) – $175.00 – $1,900.00
1870 Penny, BN (Regular Strike) $30.00 – $745.00 –
1878 Penny, BN (Regular Strike) $18.00 – $355.00 –
1883 Penny, BN (Proof) – $150.00 – $5,350.00
1864 Penny Bronze, RD (Regular Strike) – $200.00 – $35,000.00
1865 Penny DDR FS-1801 S-2 Fancy 5, BN (Regular Strike) $30.00 – $1,375.00 –
1870 Penny Shallow N FS-901, RB (Regular Strike) – $800.00 – $4,500.00
1875 Penny FS-801 S-16, BN (Regular Strike) $50.00 – $670.00 –
1891 Penny, RD (Regular Strike) – $100.00 – $10,000.00
1897 Penny, RD (Regular Strike) – $80.00 – $135,000.00
1900 Penny, RD (Regular Strike) – $75.00 – $28,500.00
1901 Penny, RB (Regular Strike) – $60.00 – $1,850.00
1909 Penny Indian, CAM (Proof) – $500.00 – $21,000.00
1909 Penny Indian, BN (Regular Strike) $1.00 – $57.00 –
1864 Penny Bronze, BN (Proof) – $425.00 – $7,500.00
1875 Penny, BN (Proof) – $170.00 – $2,500.00
1893 Penny, BN (Proof) – $125.00 – $4,500.00
1869 Penny, RD (Regular Strike) – $1,000.00 – $85,000.00
1883 Penny, RB (Regular Strike) – $100.00 – $4,250.00
1896 Penny, RD (Regular Strike) – $75.00 – $15,500.00
1898 Penny, RB (Regular Strike) – $70.00 – $2,350.00
1908 Penny, RD (Regular Strike) – $70.00 – $32,500.00
1870 Penny, RD (Proof) – $450.00 – $6,500.00
1878 Penny, RB (Proof) – $165.00 – $6,000.00
1898 Penny, RB (Proof) – $160.00 – $6,500.00
1905 Penny, RD (Proof) – $225.00 – $8,150.00
1860 Penny (Proof) – $550.00 – $5,500.00
1861 Penny (Proof) – $750.00 – $25,000.00
1862 Penny (Proof) – $650.00 – $9,750.00
1873 Penny Doubled Liberty, BN (Regular Strike) $125.00 – $7,550.00 –

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Chris McPherson is a lifelong collector turned shop owner who opened ChrisMcPherson's Souvenir Shop in 2005. With over 20 years as a professional antique dealer and appraiser, Chris expertly curates a selection of the most unique political, pop culture, and historic collectibles available. His passion is hunting one-of-a-kind artifacts and sharing the fascinating stories behind them. Chris graduated with a BA in American History, informing his specialty in political memorabilia. As a seasoned antique hunter, Chris utilizes his skills to deliver an ever-changing inventory of must-see relics and conversation pieces to his shop.

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