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Indian cents were designed by United States Mint Chief Engraver James B. Longacre and released in 1859 as a replacement for the Flying Eagle motif, which debuted in 1856 and became the nation's first small cent. Interestingly, the Indian cent name is a misnomer, as the female figure on the coin's obverse is not a Native American but rather a Caucasian figure of Miss Liberty wearing a feathered headdress meant to depict, if inaccurately, a style of head adornment similar to those worn by some native peoples.
The Indian Head "penny" was minted until 1909, spanning some 50 years and becoming what was then one of the America's longest-running coin series, along with the contemporary Liberty Seated motif that ran on most of the nation's silver coins from the late 1830s through early 1890s. During that time, the Indian Head cent series spawned a plethora of semi-keys, a least one key, and many varieties.
The 1859 Indian cent is a one-year-only type, serving as the only issue without a shield depicted on the reverse. The wreath was modified and a shield added to the reverse in 1860, and in 1864 came a variety of changes to the series. In 1864, the cent's composition was changed from 88% copper, 12% nickel to 95% copper, 5% tin or zinc. There were two compositions used that year, with some 1864 cents made with the copper-nickel composition and others composed of bronze. Furthermore, some 1864 bronze Indian cents bear an "L" (Longacre's initial) on a ribbon near the bottom of Miss Liberty's headdress.
The coin's design and composition remained virtually unchanged after 1864. However, many of the 1860s and 1870s issues are scarce in all grades, with the 1877 Indian cent the serving as the most popular key date with a mintage of only 852,500 pieces. However, the 1877 cent is not the lowest-mintage Indian cent. That claim goes to the 1909-S Indian cent, which has a mintage of just 309,000 pieces and is only the second mintmarked issue in the series. The 1908-S Indian cent, which was the first mintmarked cent, is the third-scarcest regular-issue in the series with a mintage of 1,115,000.
Obverse Description
A portrait bearing the likeness of a Native American in full headdress framed by the words UNITED STATES OF AMERICA around the periphery. The date is centered at the bottom under the portrait.
Reverse Description
The reverse bears the denomination of ONE CENT in the center surrounded by a wreath bearing a ribbon with arrows tied in at the bottom center.
Catalog Information
GSID:
81281
Designer:
James B. Longacre
Obverse Designer:
James B. Longacre
Obverse Lettering:
UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, [Date]
Reverse Designer:
James B. Longacre
Reverse Lettering:
ONE CENT
Weight (gr):
3.11 gr
Weight (oz):
0.11 oz
Strike Type:
Business
Diameter:
19
Coin Shape:
Round
Edge:
Plain
Variety:
56 Coins
Coin Date:
Indian Cent Set
Denomination:
1c
Designation:
MS
Coinage Type:
Indian Head Cent
Coinage Years:
1859-1909
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Subject: I would like to contribute catalog info to CDN for Indian Cent Set 1c 56 Coins MS BN
Body: Referring page: http://livetest.greysheet.com/prices/item/indian-head-cent-set-brown-surfaces/gsid/81281 GSID: 81281 Title: Indian Cent Set 1c 56 Coins MS BN
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Coin Value History
Indian Cent Set 1c 56 Coins MS BN
Value By Grade
Indian Cent Set 1c 56 Coins MS BN
CPG (retail) values
Currency
Grade Range
Grading Authority
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Pricing
GSID:81281
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Values
Greysheet & CPG® Values
| Grade | CAC | CPG Value (Retail) | Greysheet Price (Wholesale) |
|---|---|---|---|
| MS65 |
|
$61,500 | $1,234 |
| MS65 | - | $51,500 | $1,234 |
| MS64 |
|
$1,234 | $1,234 |
| MS64 | - | $1,234 | $1,234 |
| MS63 |
|
$1,234 | $1,234 |
| MS63 | - | $1,234 | $1,234 |
| MS62 |
|
$1,234 | $1,234 |
| MS62 | - | $1,234 | $1,234 |
| MS61 |
|
$1,234 | $1,234 |
| MS61 | - | $1,234 | $1,234 |
| MS60 |
|
$1,234 | $1,234 |
| MS60 | - | $1,234 | $1,234 |
| AU58 |
|
$1,234 | $1,234 |
| AU58 | - | $1,234 | $1,234 |
| AU55 |
|
$1,234 | $1,234 |
| AU55 | - | $1,234 | $1,234 |
| AU53 |
|
$1,234 | $1,234 |
| AU53 | - | $1,234 | $1,234 |
| AU50 |
|
$1,234 | $1,234 |
| AU50 | - | $1,234 | $1,234 |
| XF45 |
|
$1,234 | $1,234 |
| XF45 | - | $1,234 | $1,234 |
| XF40 |
|
$1,234 | $1,234 |
| XF40 | - | $1,234 | $1,234 |
| VF35 |
|
$1,234 | $1,234 |
| VF35 | - | $1,234 | $1,234 |
| VF30 |
|
$1,234 | $1,234 |
| VF30 | - | $1,234 | $1,234 |
| VF25 |
|
$1,234 | $1,234 |
| VF25 | - | $1,234 | $1,234 |
| VF20 |
|
$1,234 | $1,234 |
| VF20 | - | $1,234 | $1,234 |
| F15 |
|
$1,234 | $1,234 |
| F15 | - | $1,234 | $1,234 |
| F12 |
|
$1,234 | $1,234 |
| F12 | - | $1,234 | $1,234 |
| VG10 |
|
$1,234 | $1,234 |
| VG10 | - | $1,234 | $1,234 |
| VG8 |
|
$1,234 | $1,234 |
| VG8 | - | $1,234 | $1,234 |
| G6 |
|
$1,234 | $1,234 |
| G6 | - | $1,234 | $1,234 |
| G4 |
|
$1,234 | $1,234 |
| G4 | - | $1,234 | $1,234 |
| AG3 |
|
$1,234 | $1,234 |
| AG3 | - | $1,234 | $1,234 |
Indian Head Cent 1c 1859, Reverse of 1858 MS [Type]
![Indian Head Cent 1c 1859, Reverse of 1858 MS [Type]](https://images.greysheet.com/ctc/catalog/Indian-Cent.jpg?MaxWidth=200&Mode=Pad&Scale=UpscaleCanvas&format=webp)
Worth: $8 – $25,000
1859 1c MS
Worth: $8 – $25,000
Indian Head Cent 1c Copper Nickel, 1860-1864 MS [Type]
![Indian Head Cent 1c Copper Nickel, 1860-1864 MS [Type]](https://images.greysheet.com/ctc/catalog/1863-obv.jpg?MaxWidth=200&Mode=Pad&Scale=UpscaleCanvas&format=webp)
Worth: $7 – $72,000
1860 1c Round Bust MS
Worth: $8 – $18,000
1860 1c Pointed Bust MS
Worth: $16 – $28,800
1861 1c MS
Worth: $20 – $72,000
1862 1c MS
Worth: $7 – $72,000
1863 1c MS
Worth: $7 – $18,750
1864 1c Copper Nickel MS
Worth: $16 – $20,000
Indian Head Cent 1c Bronze, 1864-1909 MS BN [Type]
![Indian Head Cent 1c Bronze, 1864-1909 MS BN [Type]](https://images.greysheet.com/Ctc/CatalogEntry/auctions_stacksbowers_com_lots_view_3_j4gae-0.20200712022457246.jpg?MaxWidth=200&Mode=Pad&Scale=UpscaleCanvas&format=webp)
Worth: $1 – $1,688
Indian Head Cent 1c Bronze, 1864-1909 MS RB [Type]
![Indian Head Cent 1c Bronze, 1864-1909 MS RB [Type]](https://images.greysheet.com/ProductImages/DLRC/981xxx/b7d2ef71-9a5a-4a36-8889-23a25d97c412.jpg?MaxWidth=200&Mode=Pad&Scale=UpscaleCanvas&format=webp)
Worth: $44 – $2,000
Indian Head Cent 1c Bronze, 1864-1909 MS RD [Type]
![Indian Head Cent 1c Bronze, 1864-1909 MS RD [Type]](https://images.greysheet.com/Ctc/Catalog/20200826/ha_com_131705_30309-0.20200826140250544.jpg?MaxWidth=200&Mode=Pad&Scale=UpscaleCanvas&format=webp)
Worth: $110 – $120,000
1864 1c Bronze MS BN
Worth: $10 – $625
1864 1c Bronze MS RB
Worth: $160 – $11,500
1864 1c Bronze MS RD
Worth: $300 – $18,000
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