Unveiling the Enigmatic Charm of Indian Head Pennies: A Journey Through the Years

Contents

The Indian Head pennies were minted from 1859 to 1909.

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The Indian Head pennies were minted from 1859 to 1909. These coins hold a significant place in American numismatic history, both for their artistic beauty and their long-standing presence in circulation. Let’s explore this topic further.

During the era of Indian Head pennies, multiple different designs were used. The first design, minted from 1859 to 1864, featured a laurel wreath on the reverse side, encircling a shield. On the obverse side, a profile of Lady Liberty wearing an Indian headdress was depicted. This design, though unique and visually appealing, had certain issues with striking quality. As a result, it was updated in 1864.

The revised design, minted from 1864 to 1909, is the more well-known and iconic version of the Indian Head penny. On the obverse side, Lady Liberty’s headdress was changed to a Native American traditional feather headdress. The reverse side showcased a wreath of oak leaves encircling the denomination “ONE CENT.” This design remained virtually unchanged throughout its long minting period.

One interesting fact about the Indian Head pennies is that during their early years, they were initially met with some public criticism. The use of a Native American headdress on the coin was seen by some as a disrespectful representation. However, others praised the coins for their artistic beauty and saw them as a symbol of American heritage.

Another fascinating aspect is the evolving alloy composition of these pennies. In their early years, from 1859 to 1864, they were composed of 88% copper and 12% nickel. However, due to the increasing demand for copper during the Civil War, the composition was changed to 95% copper and 5% tin and zinc in 1864. This change resulted in the well-known bronze color of the Indian Head pennies.

A well-known resource, The Official Red Book: A Guide Book of United States Coins, provides interesting insights into the Indian Head pennies. According to the book, “The Indian Head cent remains one of the most beloved coins in U.S. history,” highlighting the enduring appeal of these coins among collectors and numismatic enthusiasts.

To summarize the years of minting, here is a table representing each design of the Indian Head pennies:

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Design | Minting Years

Laurel Wreath Reverse | 1859-1864
Native American Reverse | 1864-1909

In conclusion, the Indian Head pennies were minted from 1859 to 1909 and hold a cherished place in American numismatic history. These coins went through design changes and alloy composition adjustments, and while initially met with criticism, they have become beloved collectibles appreciated for their unique beauty and historical significance. As The Official Red Book states, the Indian Head cent remains one of the most cherished coins in U.S. history.

Video related “What years were the Indian Head pennies?”

This video provides an overview of the rarity and value of Indian Head pennies, which were produced from 1859 to 1909. The speaker explains that uncirculated Indian Head pennies can be quite valuable and highlights key areas of wear on the coins. They also mention specific rare dates, such as the 1909 San Francisco mint penny and the 1877 penny, as well as error coins to look out for. The video concludes with the speaker expressing gratitude to the viewers and wishing them luck in their coin collecting pursuits.

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The Indian Head cent, also known as an Indian Head penny, was a one-cent coin ($0.01) produced by the United States Bureau of the Mint from 1859 to 1909.

With quite a taboo name, Indian Head pennies, aka Indian Head cents, are some of the most expensive pennies to date. That’s because these rare coins were only produced by the U.S. Bureau of the Mint from 1859 to 1909.

The Indian Head penny was coined from 1859 to 1909 and designed by James Barton Longacre.

The Indian Head Cent was minted from 1859–1909. In 1803 the one cent piece that was minted was the Draped Bust Cent.

Draped Bust Cent – PCGS CoinFacts [ http://www.pcgscoinfacts.com/Hierarchy.aspx?c=660&title=Draped+Bust+Cent ]

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What years of Indian head pennies are valuable?

The reply will be: 10 Most Valuable Indian Head Pennies (cents)

1870 Bold N: $540 – $940.
1870 Shallow N: $590 – $1,000.
1871 Shallow N: $850 – $1,000.
1894 Double Date: $600 – $1,200.
1909-S: $1,100 – $1,200.
1869 9 Over 9: $1,000 – $1,200.
1872 Shallow N: $1,000 – $1,300.
1877: $4,200 – $5,000.

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How much is an Indian Head Penny worth today?

The reply will be: Indian Head Penny Values

DATE	GOOD	EXTREMELY FINE
1860 Indian Head Penny	$10	$65
1861 Indian Head Penny	$25	$110
1862 Indian Head Penny	$10	$50
1863 Indian Head Penny	$10	$50

What makes a 1901 Indian Head Penny rare?

The only small flaw that can be found with 1901 Indian Head Pennies is that some of their original luster will have worn away with the years. Extremely Fine: Extremely Fine Indian Head Pennies saw only a limited amount of time in circulation.

What makes a 1902 Indian Head Penny rare?

As said earlier, the 1902 penny was made from 95% copper. Over time, this metal undergoes oxidation, producing a brown patina. As such, there are very few red 1902 Indian head pennies remaining, making them extremely valuable. Red pennies in the MS 60 grade can cost anywhere from $60 to $65.

How much are the most valuable Indian Head pennies worth?

Value: $161,000 (PR65RB) This 1864 L on the Ribbon proof is the most expensive Indian Head penny ever sold at auction. There are only around 20 of these coins known to exist. This Snow-PR2 variety sold at Heritage Auctions on 13th October 2011 for a record breaking $161,000.

When did Indian Head pennies start and stop?

The response is: The “Indian Head” design appeared from 1859 to 1909. In 1909, Abraham Lincoln became the first president featured on our coins in honor of his 100th birthday. The Lincoln penny obverse showed the image of Lincoln designed by Victor David Brenner that is still used today. From 1909 to 1958 the reverse featured two sheaves of wheat.

What year were the most copper pennies made?

In reply to that: Pennies in the United States were made of pure copper from 1793 to 1837, and then contained varying amounts of copper throughout the years before converting to a majority 97.5 percent zinc in 1982. At that point, the penny continued to be made with a small 2.5 percent copper.

What is a rare year for Indian Head penny?

With quite a taboo name, Indian Head pennies, aka Indian Head cents, are some of the most expensive pennies to date. That’s because these rare coins were only produced by the U.S. Bureau of the Mint from 1859 to 1909.

How much are the most valuable Indian Head pennies worth?

Response to this: Value: $161,000 (PR65RB) This 1864 L on the Ribbon proof is the most expensive Indian Head penny ever sold at auction. There are only around 20 of these coins known to exist. This Snow-PR2 variety sold at Heritage Auctions on 13th October 2011 for a record breaking $161,000.

When did Indian Head pennies start and stop?

The “Indian Head” design appeared from 1859 to 1909. In 1909, Abraham Lincoln became the first president featured on our coins in honor of his 100th birthday. The Lincoln penny obverse showed the image of Lincoln designed by Victor David Brenner that is still used today. From 1909 to 1958 the reverse featured two sheaves of wheat.

What year were the most copper pennies made?

Pennies in the United States were made of pure copper from 1793 to 1837, and then contained varying amounts of copper throughout the years before converting to a majority 97.5 percent zinc in 1982. At that point, the penny continued to be made with a small 2.5 percent copper.

What is a rare year for Indian Head penny?

Interesting facts on the topic

Fact: The second variety of 1886 Indian Head cents has the last letter in the word "AMERICA" aligning more to the right of the lower curl on the Indian’s bust. This is the more valuable variety and sells for a premium over the Type 1 coin. The premium ranges from 30 to 50% more in value.

You knew that, The highest reported mintage is for the 1907 Indian Head Cent with 108,138,618 pieces. This was also the only issue of the series with a mintage above 100 million. The lowest reported mintage is for the 1909-S Indian Head Cent with 309,000 pieces reported struck. Along with the 1877, this is one of only two issues of the series with a mintage below 1 million.