Flying Eagle Cents

Indian Head Cents

Lincoln Cents

Liberty Head Nickels

Indian Head (Buffalo) Nickels

Jefferson Nickels

Barber Dimes

Winged Liberty Dimes

Roosevelt Dimes

Barber Quarter Dollar

Standing Liberty Quarter Dollar

Washington Quarter Dollars
    Original Series: 1932-1999

Washington Quarter Dollars
    50-States Comm Series: 1999-2008

Washington Quarter Dollars
    DC & Territories: 2009

Washington Quarter Dollars
    America the Beautiful: 2010-ongoing

Barber Half Dollars

Walking Liberty Half Dollars

Franklin Half Dollars

Kennedy Half Dollars

Morgan Dollars

Peace Dollars

Eisenhower Dollars

Susan B. Anthony Dollars

Sacagawea Dollars

Presidential Dollars

   
Indian Head Cents: 1859-1909

Type 1 Reverse:
Laurel Wreath
(1859)

Indian Head Cent Obverse
(All years)

Type 2 Reverse:
Oak Wreath and Shield
(1860-1909)

In 1859 the one cent coin was changed again. At first glance, the obverse portrait on the so-called Indian Head cent appears to be an American Indian which, of course, is how this coin got its name. Closer examination, however, reveals this is most probably a young caucasian woman wearing a Native American headdress.

The Indian Head cent had a Laurel wreath on the reverse for only its first year. The design was changed in 1860 to an Oak wreath and shield, and the design continued to the end of the series in 1909.

  • Designer: James B. Longacre
  • Diameter: 19 mm (0.75 inch); plain edge
  • Mint: Philadelphia (entire series), San Francisco (1908 & 1909 only)
  • Mint Marks:
          1859-1907 - Only minted in Philadelphia: no mint mark
          1908-1909 - Philadelphia: no mint mark; San Francisco: 'S' on reverse, at bottom

The following table summarizes the major (intentional) varities of the Indian Head cent in its design, composition, and weight. The Variety numbers are arbitrarily assigned my me and do not reflect any official numbering scheme. Note that there are numerous "unintentional" varieites (such as doubled dies, etc.) which do not fall into the context of this site.

Variety
Dates
Reverse Design
Composition
Weight
1
1859 to 1860
Laurel Wreath
88% copper, 12% nickel
4.67 grams
2
1860 to 1864
Laurel Wreath with Shield
88% copper, 12% nickel
4.67 grams
3
1864 to 1909
Oak Wreath with Shield
95% copper, 5% tin and zinc (Bronze)
3.11 grams


This page was developed by Herb Klug       Updated June 6, 2018       Contact me at herbk98@cfl.rr.com