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 headdress with "Liberty" written across the band. The words "United States of America" encircle her. Popular legend has it that Longacre used his young daughter as inspiration for the design, but no proof exists to confirm nor deny this rumor.

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 wr...

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 ▼

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When coins were withdrawn from circulation in the northern states during the Civil War, opportunists began minting private pennies… [more]

U.S. Pattern Coins Tell the Stories Behind Our Currency

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

Other Great Reference Sites

Top eBay Auctions

Showing 60. See all 761 by  highest bidmost watchedcompleted
Very Nice Complete Fe & Indian Cent Set With Ngc 1873, 1877, 1908-s, & 1909-s! 1877 Indian Head Cent Sweet V Fine++ Penny !!! Estate Sale !!!1871 Indian Cent ~ Ngc Ms 62 Bn ~ Scarce Issue 1909s Vdb1860 Indian Head Cent - Pcgs Ms641909 S Indian Head Penny Choice Vf++/xf ** Famous Final Year Issue!!!1877 Indian Cent--attractive Vg/fine--tough Key Date1909 S Indian Head Cent-full Liberty-one Of The Keys!!-buy It Now $600-free Ship1894 Indian Cent, Ngc Ms65 Rb, Nice Full Gem Uncirculated, Lowest 1890's Mintage1909-s Indian Head Cent - Icg Au531877 Indian Cent--tough Key Date--good/very Good1872 Ms+++ Key Date Indian Head Cent From Huge Estate1877 Indian Cent 1877, Indian Head Cent1877 Ngc Indian Head Penny Ngc Vg-8 Bn (brown) ** Important & Famous Key Date!!!1909 S Indian Head Large Cent - Readable "liberty", Looks ~ Au - Low Reserve!!Old Indian Head/ Wheat Penny Roll 1908-s ? Or 1909-s ? & 1909 (s-?) Dg1271873 Indian Head Penny Cent ~ Very Nice Coin In Extremely Fine Condition... 1877 Indian Head Penny Key Date1909-s Indian Head Cent! Free Shipping!Tough Dated Indian Head Penny 1863 *ngc* Ms-64 Very Nice Eye Appeal 4 The Grade1877 Indian Cent- Ngc G-4bn- No Reserve1877 Indian Head Cent Free Shipping1909 S Indian Head Penny Vg+ ** Famous Final Year Issue!!!1877, Indian Head Cent1898 Indian Cent Pcgs Ms65rb Spot Free Beauty Strong Strike1873 Indian Head Penny "closed-3" Choice Au++/uncirculated ** Scarce!!!1908 Indian Cent Pcgs Ms65rb Superb Eye Appeal Strong Strike Full Luster1909 S Indian Head Cent High Grade Estate Sale !!! 1909s? 1908s? / 1909 1 Diamond Indian Head Cent RollCollection Of 200 Indian Head Cents - Average Circulated 1902 Indian Cent Pcgs Ms64rd Strong Strike Full Luster1899 Indian Cent Pcgs Ms65rb Great Color And Surfaces1906 Indian Cent Pcgs Ms64rd Spot Free Great Red Color And Surfaces1896 Pcgs Pr63rb Proof Indian Head Cent Ogh"s" Tail/1875 Indian Head**higher Grade**old Roll Of 50 Wheat And Indian Pennies1877 United States Indian Head $0.01 Cent Original Ch. Ag Copper Penny ~lqqk!~1892 Indian Cent Pcgs Ms64rb Great Red Brown Color And Surfaces Strong Strike1889 Indian Head Penny "proof" Superb Gem Pf ** Lovely Red Surfaces!!!1909 S Indian Head Cent, Key Date 1893 Indian Cent Pcgs Ms64rb Superb Eye Appeal Full Luster1892 Indian Cent Pcgs Ms64rb Great Fresh And Crisp Color And Surfaces1863 Indian Cent 1864 Indian Head Penny "copper-nickel" Solid Gem Bu++ ** Rare This Nice!!!1871 Indian Head Penny Choice Au++/uncirculated ** Very Tough!!!Pcgs Ms64 Rd 1904 Indian Head Cent - Pcgs Ms 64 Red!Tough Dated Indian Head Penny 1879 *pcgs* Ms-64rb Looks Fully Red A Pq Gem !!1909 S Indian Head Penny (higher Grade)1878 Indian Head Penny "proof" Superb Gem Pf ** Lovely Red Surfaces!!!Avc- 1909-s Indian Cent Very Fine - Full Liberty - Key Date1907 1c Indian Head Cent Ngc Ms64rb ~ Nice! Cac! Eye Appeal! Pq+!1857fe/1868 Indian Head**higher Grade**old Roll Of 50 Wheat And Indian Pennies1877, Indian Head CentUltra Rare & Scarce 1877 Indian Head Cent Penny 1c Less Than 853,000 Minted (17) 1864 1865 1866 1867 1868 1869 Indian Head Copper One Cent Coin Lot ^ E 7451864 Bronze Indian Cent ~ Ngc Ms 64 Rb ~ Scarce Issue 1899 Indian Cent Ngc Proof 63 Pf63 Pr63 Bn**indian Head Cent Collection 1857 To 1909, 37 Coins Including A Nice 1908s ** 1863 Indian Head Penny "copper-nickel" Solid Gem Bu++ ** Gorgeous!!!1877 Indian Head Penny

Recent News: Indian Head Cents

Source: Google News

Wedding band, old coins, earrings among artifacts found in forgotten graveyard
KTVU San Francisco, June 13th

While artifacts are considered rare in a Potter's Field for the poor, the county displayed some recovered there: pipes, buttons, marbles, cufflinks, a pocketknife, a scalpel, an 1882 Indian head penny and silver dimes dated 1902, 1903, 1904 and 1905...Read more

Club Notes
Brattleboro Reformer, June 1st

Anyone reaching into the collectable grab bag and selecting a free Indian Head cent or Buffalo nickel will be able to double their prize if they can say who was president in the year the coin was minted. The Indian Head cents were issued from 1859...Read more

Family, friends recall WWII veteran killed on Memorial Day
Greensboro News & Record, May 28th

Williams said his uncle kept a 1904 Indian head penny with him when he was a prisoner. He put it in his boot so the Germans wouldn't confiscate it. “His mother was born in 1904,” Williams said. “He kept the penny with him as a reminder of home and to...Read more