WePlayCoins
Cents · 1859–1909

Indian Head Cent Values & Mintages

Longacre's Indian Head cent depicts Liberty wearing a feathered headdress. The 1859 reverse has a laurel wreath; from 1860 an oak wreath with a small shield was used. The thick copper-nickel coins of 1859–1864 gave way in 1864 to the thinner bronze cent that lasted until 1909.

Years
1859–1909
Issues listed
108
Lowest mintage
309K
Diameter
19 mm

Original illustration. Tap to flip.

An "L" for Longacre was added to the ribbon in 1864. The 1877 and 1909-S are the key dates and the 1908-S and 1909-S are the only Indian cents made outside Philadelphia.

Designer: James B. Longacre.

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Key dates: lowest mintages

See all 108 →
1909-S Indian Head CentThe 1909-S Indian cent has the lowest mintage of the series and was struck in the design's final year.
309,000
1877 Indian Head CentThe 1877 is the key date of the Indian Head cent series.
852,500
1908-S Indian Head CentSemi-key: below-average mintage
1,115,000
1871 Indian Head CentSemi-key: below-average mintage
3,929,500
1872 Indian Head CentSemi-key: below-average mintage
4,042,000
1870 Indian Head CentCommon date
5,275,000
1878 Indian Head CentCommon date
5,797,500
1869 Indian Head CentCommon date
6,420,000
1876 Indian Head CentCommon date
7,944,000
1867 Indian Head CentCommon date
9,821,000

Famous varieties & errors

1864 Indian Head Cent, Bronze (L on ribbon)Variety / error
Unknown
Indian Head Cent circulation mintagesLog scale · hover or tap a bar · 1859–1909
100K1M10M100M

Every Indian Head Cent by year and mint

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Owned✓CoinYearMintMintageTypeSilver
1859 Indian Head Cent1859None 36,400,000Circulation strike–
1859 Indian Head Cent Proof1859None 800Proof–
1860 Indian Head Cent1860None 20,566,000Circulation strike–
1860 Indian Head Cent Proof1860None 1,000Proof–
1861 Indian Head Cent1861None 10,100,000Circulation strike–
1861 Indian Head Cent Proof1861None 1,000Proof–
1862 Indian Head Cent1862None 28,075,000Circulation strike–
1862 Indian Head Cent Proof1862None 550Proof–
1863 Indian Head Cent1863None 49,840,000Circulation strike–
1863 Indian Head Cent Proof1863None 460Proof–
1864 Indian Head Cent, Copper-Nickel1864None 13,740,000Circulation strike–
1864 Indian Head Cent, Bronze1864None 39,233,714Circulation strike–
1864 Indian Head Cent, Bronze (L on ribbon)1864None –Variety–
1864 Indian Head Cent Proof, Copper-Nickel1864None 370Proof–
1864 Indian Head Cent Proof, Bronze1864None 150Proof–
1864 Indian Head Cent Proof, Bronze (L on ribbon)1864None 35Proof–
1865 Indian Head Cent1865None 35,429,286Circulation strike–
1865 Indian Head Cent Proof1865None 500Proof–
1866 Indian Head Cent1866None 9,826,500Circulation strike–
1866 Indian Head Cent Proof1866None 725Proof–
1867 Indian Head Cent1867None 9,821,000Circulation strike–
1867 Indian Head Cent Proof1867None 625Proof–
1868 Indian Head Cent1868None 10,266,500Circulation strike–
1868 Indian Head Cent Proof1868None 600Proof–
1869 Indian Head Cent1869None 6,420,000Circulation strike–
1869 Indian Head Cent Proof1869None 600Proof–
1870 Indian Head Cent1870None 5,275,000Circulation strike–
1870 Indian Head Cent Proof1870None 1,000Proof–
1871 Indian Head Cent1871None 3,929,500Circulation strike–
1871 Indian Head Cent Proof1871None 960Proof–
1872 Indian Head Cent1872None 4,042,000Circulation strike–
1872 Indian Head Cent Proof1872None 950Proof–
1873 Indian Head Cent1873None 11,676,500Circulation strike–
1873 Indian Head Cent Proof1873None 1,100Proof–
1874 Indian Head Cent1874None 14,187,500Circulation strike–
1874 Indian Head Cent Proof1874None 700Proof–
1875 Indian Head Cent1875None 13,528,000Circulation strike–
1875 Indian Head Cent Proof1875None 700Proof–
1876 Indian Head Cent1876None 7,944,000Circulation strike–
1876 Indian Head Cent Proof1876None 1,150Proof–
1877 Indian Head Cent1877None 852,500Circulation strike–
1877 Indian Head Cent Proof1877None 900Proof–
1878 Indian Head Cent1878None 5,797,500Circulation strike–
1878 Indian Head Cent Proof1878None 2,350Proof–
1879 Indian Head Cent1879None 16,228,000Circulation strike–
1879 Indian Head Cent Proof1879None 3,200Proof–
1880 Indian Head Cent1880None 38,961,000Circulation strike–
1880 Indian Head Cent Proof1880None 3,955Proof–
1881 Indian Head Cent1881None 39,208,000Circulation strike–
1881 Indian Head Cent Proof1881None 3,575Proof–
1882 Indian Head Cent1882None 38,578,000Circulation strike–
1882 Indian Head Cent Proof1882None 3,100Proof–
1883 Indian Head Cent1883None 45,591,500Circulation strike–
1883 Indian Head Cent Proof1883None 6,609Proof–
1884 Indian Head Cent1884None 23,257,800Circulation strike–
1884 Indian Head Cent Proof1884None 3,942Proof–
1885 Indian Head Cent1885None 11,761,594Circulation strike–
1885 Indian Head Cent Proof1885None 3,790Proof–
1886 Indian Head Cent1886None 17,650,000Circulation strike–
1886 Indian Head Cent Proof1886None 4,290Proof–
1887 Indian Head Cent1887None 45,223,523Circulation strike–
1887 Indian Head Cent Proof1887None 2,960Proof–
1888 Indian Head Cent1888None 37,489,832Circulation strike–
1888 Indian Head Cent Proof1888None 4,582Proof–
1889 Indian Head Cent1889None 48,866,025Circulation strike–
1889 Indian Head Cent Proof1889None 3,336Proof–
1890 Indian Head Cent1890None 57,180,114Circulation strike–
1890 Indian Head Cent Proof1890None 2,740Proof–
1891 Indian Head Cent1891None 47,070,000Circulation strike–
1891 Indian Head Cent Proof1891None 2,350Proof–
1892 Indian Head Cent1892None 37,647,087Circulation strike–
1892 Indian Head Cent Proof1892None 2,745Proof–
1893 Indian Head Cent1893None 46,640,000Circulation strike–
1893 Indian Head Cent Proof1893None 2,195Proof–
1894 Indian Head Cent1894None 16,749,500Circulation strike–
1894 Indian Head Cent Proof1894None 2,632Proof–
1895 Indian Head Cent1895None 38,341,474Circulation strike–
1895 Indian Head Cent Proof1895None 2,062Proof–
1896 Indian Head Cent1896None 39,055,431Circulation strike–
1896 Indian Head Cent Proof1896None 1,862Proof–
1897 Indian Head Cent1897None 50,464,392Circulation strike–
1897 Indian Head Cent Proof1897None 1,938Proof–
1898 Indian Head Cent1898None 49,821,284Circulation strike–
1898 Indian Head Cent Proof1898None 1,795Proof–
1899 Indian Head Cent1899None 53,598,000Circulation strike–
1899 Indian Head Cent Proof1899None 2,031Proof–
1900 Indian Head Cent1900None 66,831,502Circulation strike–
1900 Indian Head Cent Proof1900None 2,262Proof–
1901 Indian Head Cent1901None 79,609,158Circulation strike–
1901 Indian Head Cent Proof1901None 1,985Proof–
1902 Indian Head Cent1902None 87,374,704Circulation strike–
1902 Indian Head Cent Proof1902None 2,018Proof–
1903 Indian Head Cent1903None 85,092,703Circulation strike–
1903 Indian Head Cent Proof1903None 1,790Proof–
1904 Indian Head Cent1904None 61,326,198Circulation strike–
1904 Indian Head Cent Proof1904None 1,817Proof–
1905 Indian Head Cent1905None 80,717,011Circulation strike–
1905 Indian Head Cent Proof1905None 2,152Proof–
1906 Indian Head Cent1906None 96,020,530Circulation strike–
1906 Indian Head Cent Proof1906None 1,725Proof–
1907 Indian Head Cent1907None 108,137,143Circulation strike–
1907 Indian Head Cent Proof1907None 1,475Proof–
1908 Indian Head Cent1908None 32,326,317Circulation strike–
1908 Indian Head Cent Proof1908None 1,620Proof–
1908-S Indian Head Cent1908S 1,115,000Circulation strike–
1909 Indian Head Cent1909None 14,368,470Circulation strike–
1909 Indian Head Cent Proof1909None 2,175Proof–
1909-S Indian Head Cent1909S 309,000Circulation strike–

Composition by year

YearsMetalWeightSilver
1859–186388% copper, 12% nickel4.67 g–
1864–190995% copper, 5% tin and zinc (bronze)3.11 g–
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Mint mark location

1859–1907: No mint mark. Philadelphia struck every Indian cent until 1908.

1908–1909: On the reverse, below the wreath. Only 1908-S and 1909-S carry a mint mark.

Grading tips

In Very Fine, all five letters of LIBERTY on the headband are visible; collectors also look at the feather tips and the "diamonds" on the ribbon. Color is graded too: Red (RD), Red-Brown (RB) and Brown (BN).

Frequently asked questions

What is the rarest Indian Head Cent?

By mintage, the scarcest regular circulation issue is the 1909-S Indian Head Cent with 309,000 struck, followed by the 1877 Indian Head Cent (852,500). Survival rates and condition also matter: some higher-mintage dates are scarce in top grades.

Are Indian Head Cents silver?

1859–1863: 88% copper, 12% nickel; 1864–1909: 95% copper, 5% tin and zinc (bronze).

Where is the mint mark on a Indian Head Cent?

1859–1907: No mint mark. Philadelphia struck every Indian cent until 1908.

1908–1909: On the reverse, below the wreath. Only 1908-S and 1909-S carry a mint mark.

How many Indian Head Cents were made?

About 1,849,560,792 for circulation across 54 date and mint combinations, from 108,137,143 for the 1907 Indian Head Cent down to 309,000 for the 1909-S Indian Head Cent.

Who designed the Indian Head Cent?

James B. Longacre.

Other cents

Flowing Hair Large Cent

1793 · 2 issues

Liberty Cap Large Cent

1793–1796 · 6 issues

Draped Bust Large Cent

1796–1807 · 13 issues

Classic Head Large Cent

1808–1815 · 8 issues

Coronet (Matron Head) Large Cent

1816–1839 · 49 issues

Braided Hair Large Cent

1839–1857 · 39 issues

Flying Eagle Cent

1856–1858 · 7 issues

Lincoln Wheat Cent

1909–1958 · 178 issues

Lincoln Memorial Cent

1959–2008 · 166 issues

Lincoln Bicentennial Cent

2009 · 20 issues

Lincoln Shield Cent

2010–present · 52 issues

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Mintages from Wikipedia's US Mint-sourced tables (CC BY-SA 4.0). Specifications from US Mint records. All sources.