Clothing
+ Fashion		Jewelry +
Watches		Home +
Furniture		 Pottery 
+ Glass		Art +
 Photos 		Paper +
  Books  		Music +
Movies		Toys +
Games		Sports +
Outdoors		Ads +
  Signs  		Eras +
Themes

The Indian Head cent, or Indian Head Penny, was designed by James Barton Longacre and struck from 1859 until 1909. It was minted in both Philadelphia and San Francisco.

The coin featured the head of Lady Liberty, facing left and wearing a Native American head...

For the first year it was struck, the reverse of the Indian Head cent depicted the denomination – the words "one cent" – inside a laurel wreath. The following year, the laurel wreath became an oak wreath, thought to symbolize authority. Arrows were added to the bottom an a heraldic shield was added at the top.

The Indian Head penny was produced using the same material as the Flying Eagle cent – a mixture of copper and nickel – until 1864, when the nickel was removed, changing the coin’s color.

Although there are slight variations in design, the images remained virtually the same (excluding the obvious change on the reverse after the first year) until the coin ceased production in 1909.

About our sources | Got something to add?

▼ Expand to read the full article ▼

Show & Tell - Share Your Stuff!

» See all 1c Indian Head Show & Tells

Interviews & Articles

During the Civil War, Some People Got Rich Quick By Minting Their Own Money

When coins were withdrawn from circulation in the northern states during the Civil War, opportunists began minting private pennies… [more]

An Interview With U.S. Pattern Coin Collector Andy Lustig

I started collecting coins when I was five years old, and I started dealing when I was 13 or 14. Most kids start with coins of cir… [more]



Best of the Web (“Hall of Fame”)

Indianheads.org

Indianheads.org

The combined efforts of a knowledgeable group makes this an authoritative site for both beginning and seasoned coll… [read review or visit site]

Legendary Coins and Currency

Legendary Coins and Currency

This online exhibition from the Smithsonian's National Museum of American History is a great way to get an overview… [read review or visit site]

Society of U.S. Pattern Collectors

Society of U.S. Pattern Collectors

Home to the Society of U.S. Pattern collectors, this well-organized site provides in-depth information on pattern c… [read review or visit site]



Clubs & Associations: US Coins

Other Great Reference Sites: US Coins

Top eBay Auctions

Showing 60. See all 269 by  highest bid • most watched • completed
Complete Set Of Lincoln Pennies 1909- 20101909 S Indian Head Penny 1859 Indian Head Cent Penny Graded Mint State 64 Ms 64 By Pcgs Very Nice CoinWashington Quarters Complete Set 1932-1998 Very Nice No Reserve1884 Indian Head Penny "cameo Proof" Superb Gem Pf ** Red!!!1877 Indian Head Cent Free S/h!1909 S Indian Cent Key Date To The Series All Liberty Visable1897 Indian Head Penny "proof" Superb Gem Pf ** Gorgeous Red Surfaces!!!1869 Indian Head Penny Au ** Rare Key Date!!!1877 Indian Head Cent , Light Damage.Mj#61 1909 S Indian Head Cent "key"1890 Indian Head Penny "proof" Superb Gem Pf ** Flashy Red Surfaces!!!1908 Indian Head Penny "deep Cameo Proof" Superb Gem Pf ** Red!!!1869 Much Better Date Indian Cent, Pcgs Au-50, Brown & Smooth! (estatesale)1868 Indian Head Penny Anacs Ms-62 Brn Very Very Nice Penny!!Must See ~ Key Date Good 1877 Indian Head Penny ~ No Reserve!1905 Indian Cent, Pcgs Certified Ms-64+ Red. Almost 65 & Loaded With Flash!!1861 Indian Head Cent Pcgs Ms 63 Rare Original Lustrous Rare Coin Roll Of Wheat/indian Cents #2850 Rare Old Gold Coin/token& 1863 Indian Head!!1890 Indian Head Penny "proof" Gem Pf ** Vibrant Red Surfaces!!!1864-l __xf ___snow-5 __ Fs1-006.5 __ Rpd _indian Cent1864 Bronze Indian Cent, Ngc Ms 66 Bn, Spectacular Toning1896 Indian Head Penny "proof" Gem Pf ** Red!!!Lot Of 50 Pre 1880 Flying Eagle & Indian Cents - Rare 1850s 1860s 1870s Dates1884 Indian Cent Gem Bu Choice Unc Uncirculated Red Penny Full StrikeIndian Collection - 56 Coin Set Free 1856 W/o 1877 1908-s 1909-sLot Of 80 High Grade Indian Head Cents - Cleaned1895 1c Anacs Pr-63 Bn ~ Proof Indian Cent1872 Proof Indian Head Bronze Cent1864 Indian Head Penny "copper-nickel" Gem Bu ** Lovely Coin!!!1882 Indian Cent, Pcgs Proof 64 Brn, Gorgeous Toning 1865 Fancy 5 Indian Cent Pcgs Ms-63 Red-brown1879 Indian Cent, Anacs Proof 63 Rb, Toning With Splashes Of Nice Pastel Colors1888 Pcgs Ms64rb Indian Head Cent Flashy Nearly Full Red1867 Indian Cent ~ Uncirculated Details ~ Bold Strike 1877 Indian Head Penny Famous Key Date**phenomenal!! B1851888 Indian Head Penny Gem Bu ** Fiery Red Surfaces!!!1893 Indian Head Penny "proof" Gem Pf ** Lovely Red Surfaces!!!1864 Indian Head Penny "copper-nickel" Near Gem Bu ** Beautiful!!!1860 Indian Head Penny "copper-nickel" Near Gem Bu++/gem Bu 1880 Indian Head Cent Near Gem Bu Details Almost Unc Uncirculated Us Coin1879 Indian Head Penny Near Gem Bu1879 Indian Head Penny Gem Bu ** Nice Red Brown!!!1907 Indian Head Penny "proof" Near Gem Pf++ ** Red!!!1908-s Indian Head Cent-fine+ "key"1877 (?) Ih & 1863 Ih Unsearched Wheat & Ih Old Roll Of Penny 1 Cent Coins Lot Of 50 Mixed Date Indian Head Cents - High GradesLot Of 100 Indian Head Cent Coins .......... Coinboxguy1863 Indian Cent Pcgs Ms-61, Original1909 Indian Cent Gem Bu Choice Unc Uncirculated Red Penny Nice Coin Strike Luste1884 Indian Cent Near Gem Bu Choice Unc Uncirculated Red Penny Nice Coin1877 Indian Head Penny Famous Key Date**!!!!! B272Indian Cent Collection 1856-19091877 Indian Head Bronze Cent Roll Of Wheat/indian Cents #2856 Rare "s" Mint Indian& Indian Reverse Showing!1870 - 1879 Near Complete Run Lot Of 9 Indian Head Small Cent Penny CoinsIndian And Wheat Penny Roll 1863 Civil War Token /rev Ih Ends 7088 Nice Coins !1882 Indian Head Proof Cent Penny Red! Must See!!!1907 Indian Cent Gem Bu Choice Unc Uncirculated Red Penny Nice Strike Luster1870 - 1879 Near Complete Run Lot Of 9 Indian Head Small Cent Penny Coins
»» Get our weekly Indian Head Cents email
Right now on eBay



Recent News: Indian Head Cents

Source: Google News

Copper used to make 'a red cent'
The Star Democrat, February 2nd

The Indian Head Penny was minted from 1859 to 1909. In Stuart Berg Flexner's book Listening to America, he says that copper coins minted in other countries were in circulation in the United States and were called "coppers" or "copper cents...Read more

Bargain Gold: Three Denominations Offer Some Great Values
NumisMaster.com, February 1st

All three were designed by James B. Longacre, of Indian Head cent fame. In addition, all gold $1 pieces contain 0.0484 ounces of gold, which means their bullion value is approximately $77, with gold at $1600 an ounce. Of the three types, Type II,...Read more

Coin dealer wise to world treasure
Chicago Sun-Times, January 27th

By NEIL STEINBERG nsteinberg@suntimes.com January 27, 2012 1:10PM Which is why at Harlan J. Berk Ltd., you can walk in to the small shop at 31 N. Clark and walk out a delighted 7-year-old clutching a worn Indian head penny fished out of a bowl of old...Read more

US Coins

Gold
Dollars
Half Dollars
Quarters
Dimes
Nickels
Cents
Other
suggest a category

See also

Share