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United States Indian Head Coins

Coin, Money & Stamp Categories


The Indian head cent was a popular penny that ran from 1859 to 1909. Prior to the Indian head, pennies were either much larger or much thicker. The Indian head was the first penny design that displayed roughly modern proportions. The flying eagle penny prior to the Indian head proved to be very problematic to strike well, influencing the mint director to choose a design based upon the ease of its minting as opposed to the design itself.

One of the most incongruous aspects of this design was the Indian head obverse. Although chief engraver James Longacre, who was responsible for the design, defended his choices, the fact that the obverse featured the female Liberty wearing a headdress that was reserved for male warriors in Native American culture was not missed. The coin's size and functionality was popular, but the obverse's strange juxtaposition was met with criticism. Interestingly, the same visual marriage of female bust and male headdress was revisited by Augustus Saint-Gaudens in his eagle design from 1907 to 1916.

The Indian head cent's demise came at the hands of President Theodore Roosevelt, who had a mission to beautify America's coinage, enlisting the aid of private sculptors. This led him to work with Saint-Gaudens, who was hired to create new designs for each denomination. Saint-Gaudens was terminally ill, however, and only had a chance to submit one potential design for the cent, which was rejected because cents cannot legally depict an eagle due to 1873 legislation. This led President Roosevelt to instead honor President Lincoln on the centennial of his birth. The new Lincoln cent and the Indian head penny were minted side by side in 1909, marking the end of the Indian head's exclusive 50-year run.


Quick Facts

  • The record auction for an Indian head cent is held by an 1859 double-obverse error sold for $195,000 in 2008. The highest non-error example is an 1864 proof, which hit $161,000 in 2012
  • Some 1875 Indian head cents have a small dot added by the letter N in the word ONE on the reverse. It is speculated that this was added at the Mint as a way to catch a thief on staff
  • The closed 3 Indian head is desirable to collectors. Complaints were aired early in 1873 that the 3 in the date looked too much like an 8. The error was fixed, resulting in both closed 3 and open 3 varieties

Recommended Items at Auction

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Indian Head Coins: Rare Historical Selection
Nov 04, 6:00 PM EST
Indian Head Coins: Rare Historical Selection
by Aether Auctions
Est: $0- $0
$2615 Bids
1879 Indian Head Cent, SEMI KEY. Tough Date
Nov 05, 5:00 PM EST
1879 Indian Head Cent, SEMI KEY. Tough Date
by Richard L. Edwards Auctioneer
Est: $1- $5,000
$125 Bids
1901 Indian Head Cent UNCIRCULATED
Nov 15, 5:00 PM CST
1901 Indian Head Cent UNCIRCULATED
by Gold Standard Auctions
Est: $35- $10,000
$403 Bids
1885 Indian Head Cent CLOSELY UNCIRCULATED
Nov 06, 5:00 PM CST
1885 Indian Head Cent CLOSELY UNCIRCULATED
by Gold Standard Auctions
Est: $25- $10,000
$202 Bids
1862 & 1863 CN - Indian Pennies - Civil War Era
Nov 05, 5:00 PM EST
1862 & 1863 CN - Indian Pennies - Civil War Era
by Richard L. Edwards Auctioneer
Est: $1- $5,000
$12 Bids
1861 Indian Cent 1c Grades Choice AU/BU Slider
Nov 04, 1:30 PM EST
1861 Indian Cent 1c Grades Choice AU/BU Slider
by Key Date Coins
Est: $137- $275
$1002 Bids
*Highlight* 1879 Indian Cent Near Top Pop! 1c ms66+ rd SEGS (fc)
Nov 04, 1:30 PM EST
*Highlight* 1879 Indian Cent Near Top Pop! 1c ms66+ rd SEGS (fc)
by Key Date Coins
Est: $6,750- $13,500
$7002 Bids
*Highlight* 1904 Indian Cent Near Top Pop! 1c ms66+ rd SEGS (fc)
Nov 04, 1:30 PM EST
*Highlight* 1904 Indian Cent Near Top Pop! 1c ms66+ rd SEGS (fc)
by Key Date Coins
Est: $2,000- $4,000
$5502 Bids
1894 Indian Cent 1c ms65 bn SEGS
Nov 04, 1:30 PM EST
1894 Indian Cent 1c ms65 bn SEGS
by Key Date Coins
Est: $170- $340
$1702 Bids
1883 Indian Head Cent
Nov 04, 5:00 PM EST
1883 Indian Head Cent
by Richard L. Edwards Auctioneer
Est: $1- $5,000
$42 Bids
*Highlight* 1904 Indian Cent Near Top Pop! 1c ms67 rd SEGS (fc)
Nov 04, 1:30 PM EST
*Highlight* 1904 Indian Cent Near Top Pop! 1c ms67 rd SEGS (fc)
by Key Date Coins
Est: $2,000- $4,000
$9502 Bids
**SEMI-KEY DATE - NICE CHOCOLATE BROWN - FINE/VF** 1908-S Indian Head Cent
Nov 04, 5:00 PM EST
**SEMI-KEY DATE - NICE CHOCOLATE BROWN - FINE/VF** 1908-S Indian Head Cent
by Richard L. Edwards Auctioneer
Est: $1- $5,000
$852 Bids
1875 Indian Head Cent NEARLY UNCIRCULATED
Nov 06, 5:00 PM CST
1875 Indian Head Cent NEARLY UNCIRCULATED
by Gold Standard Auctions
Est: $45- $10,000
$401 Bid
1901 Indian Head Cent CLOSELY UNCIRCULATED
Nov 14, 5:00 PM CST
1901 Indian Head Cent CLOSELY UNCIRCULATED
by Gold Standard Auctions
Est: $20- $10,000
$151 Bid
1901 Indian Head Cent UNCIRCULATED
Nov 14, 5:00 PM CST
1901 Indian Head Cent UNCIRCULATED
by Gold Standard Auctions
Est: $35- $10,000
$301 Bid
Indian Head Cents
Nov 09, 12:00 PM EST
Indian Head Cents
by Bob Stutler's Auction
Est: $0- $0
$41 Bid
Indian Head Cents
Nov 09, 12:00 PM EST
Indian Head Cents
by Bob Stutler's Auction
Est: $0- $0
$41 Bid
U.S.A. 1911 S Cent & 1912 S Cents, Very Fine & Fine (2 coins)
Nov 10, 12:00 PM AEDT
U.S.A. 1911 S Cent & 1912 S Cents, Very Fine & Fine (2 coins)
by Smalls Auctions
Est: AUD35- AUD50
AUD251 Bid
1869/9 Indian Head Cent CLOSELY UNCIRCULATED
Nov 03, 12:30 PM CDT
1869/9 Indian Head Cent CLOSELY UNCIRCULATED
by Gold Standard Auctions
Est: $195- $10,000
$1901 Bid
1891 RED Indian Head Cent CHOICE BU
Nov 03, 12:30 PM CDT
1891 RED Indian Head Cent CHOICE BU
by Gold Standard Auctions
Est: $70- $10,000
$651 Bid
1863 Indian Head Cent **XF+ - GREAT DETAILS - Old Scratches**
Nov 04, 5:00 PM EST
1863 Indian Head Cent **XF+ - GREAT DETAILS - Old Scratches**
by Richard L. Edwards Auctioneer
Est: $1- $5,000
$11 Bid
1887 Indian Head Cent PGA PR64 RB
Nov 03, 12:30 PM CDT
1887 Indian Head Cent PGA PR64 RB
by Gold Standard Auctions
Est: $100- $10,000
$951 Bid
1869 Indian Cent 1c Grades Choice AU/BU Slider
Nov 04, 1:30 PM EST
1869 Indian Cent 1c Grades Choice AU/BU Slider
by Key Date Coins
Est: $450- $900
$51 Bid
Lot of 8 Various Dated High Grade Indian Head Cents
Nov 04, 5:00 PM EST
Lot of 8 Various Dated High Grade Indian Head Cents
by Richard L. Edwards Auctioneer
Est: $1- $5,000
$11 Bid

Sellers Who Sell United States Indian Head Coins


Gold Standard Auctions

Gold Standard Auctions

Richard L. Edwards Auctioneer

Richard L. Edwards Auctioneer

McCurley Auction Company

McCurley Auction Company