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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.

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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