Indian Cent 1859 - 1909

The Indian Cent, also known as the Indian Head Cent, was a one-cent coin that was issued by the United States Mint from 1859 to 1909. It featured a portrait of Lady Liberty wearing a Native American headdress on the obverse side and an oak wreath and shield on the reverse side. The coin is often referred to as the "Indian Cent" due to the Native American imagery on the obverse.

The Indian Cent was designed by James B. Longacre, who was the Chief Engraver of the United States Mint at the time. It was introduced as a replacement for the Large Cent, which was becoming too expensive to produce. The Indian Cent was smaller in size, with a diameter of 19 mm, and made of a copper-nickel alloy.

The first year of the Indian Cent's production was 1859. It featured a laurel wreath on the reverse side instead of the oak wreath that was later used. The coin was initially well-received by the public, but there were some criticisms regarding the depiction of Lady Liberty with a Native American headdress. Some felt that it was historically inaccurate and perpetuated stereotypes.

In 1860, the design of the reverse side was modified to feature an oak wreath and a shield at the top. This design remained unchanged for the rest of the coin's production run.

During the American Civil War, there was a shortage of copper, which led to the Mint experimenting with different metals for the cent coinage. As a result, the Indian Cent was briefly minted in bronze (1864-1866) and copper-nickel (1866-1883). In 1883, the coin transitioned to a composition of 95% copper and 5% tin and zinc, which remained consistent until its discontinuation.

In 1909, the Indian Cent was replaced by the Lincoln Cent, which is still in production today. The decision to replace the Indian Cent was mainly driven by concerns over the durability of the coin, as the design had a tendency to wear quickly. The new Lincoln Cent featured an image of President Abraham Lincoln on the obverse side.

The Indian Cent remains a popular collectible among coin enthusiasts and collectors. Its unique design and historical significance make it a sought-after coin in the numismatic community.

 

Key Dates

1859: This is the inaugural year of the Indian Cent and is highly sought after by collectors. It was the first year the coin was minted and introduced the design that would remain consistent throughout the coin's production.

1877: The 1877 Indian Cent is considered one of the rarest and most valuable dates in the series. It has a low mintage of just 852,500 coins, making it highly sought after by collectors.

1908-S: The 1908-S Indian Cent is another key date that is prized for its rarity. It was minted in San Francisco and has a relatively low mintage of 1,115,000 coins.

1909-S: This is the final year of the Indian Cent series and is highly sought after by collectors. It was minted in San Francisco and has a mintage of 309,000 coins.

1909-S VDB: The 1909-S VDB Indian Cent is considered one of the most famous and valuable coins in the series. It features the initials "VDB" on the reverse side, representing the designer Victor David Brenner. However, the initials were quickly removed due to public controversy. Only a limited number of coins were minted with the initials, making it highly desirable among collectors.

These key dates, particularly the 1877 Indian Cent and the 1909-S VDB Indian Cent, can command significant premiums in the collector's market due to their rarity and historical importance.