The
Indian Head One Cent coin was produced by the United States Mint from 1859 to 1909. The small cent was redesigned in 1859. The Indian Head Cent replaced the Flying Eagle Cent.
Designed by James Barton Longacre, the obverse of the coin shows "UNITED STATES OF AMERICA", the head of a Native American wearing a feather head dress, and the year of production. The word "LIBERTY" appears on the band of the head dress.
The coin's reverse side shows "ONE CENT" within an oak wreath, with three arrows inserted under the ribbon that binds the two branches of the wreath. Between the ends of the branches is the shield of the United States.
One interesting note is that in 1860 the laurel wreath was replaced with an oak wreath as mentioned above. The oak wreath continued until the 1909 Indian Head Cent design was again changed to the Lincoln cent.
This beautiful 1902 Indian had a $2.00 buy it now recently on eBay!!!
The best place to purchase
Indian Head Cent coins is at eBay. Most of these coins are very expensive in the better grades. The 1877 Indian Head Cent is very rare in any condition. However, you can collect most of the different years they were made at a very low cost in the lower grades of good, very good and fine. You should be able to find many specimens for your collection in the $1.00 to $10.00 value range. Buy Starter collections or mixed lots and save by buying in bulk.
Initially, the production of the five-cent nickel and the one-cent bronze coin was limited by law to the Philadelphia Mint. An Act of Congress passed on April 24, 1906, provided for the making of these denominations at other Mint facilities.
The manufacture of the Indian Head cent at the San Francisco Mint in November 1908 marked the first time this denomination of coins was minted outside of Philadelphia. These San Francisco-minted Indian Head Cents bear the "S" mint mark beneath the ribbon of the wreath on the reverse. One-cent coin production did not begin at the Denver Mint until 1911, during the third year of the Lincoln cent design.
The manufacture of the Indian Head cent at the San Francisco Mint in November 1908 marked the first time this denomination of coins was minted outside of Philadelphia. These San Francisco-minted Indian Head Cents bear the "S" mint mark beneath the ribbon of the wreath on the reverse. One-cent coin production did not begin at the Denver Mint until 1911, during the third year of the Lincoln cent design.
