US · Cent · 1859–1909
Indian Head Cent (1859–1909)
Liberty wearing a Native American headdress on the obverse — not an actual Indigenous portrait. Composition shifted from copper-nickel to bronze in 1864. Replaced by the Lincoln cent in 1909 for the centennial of Lincoln's birth.
i.
Reference photos
Obverse
Photo: Unknown authorUnknown author / Wikimedia Commons (public-domain) — https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:1888_cent_obv.jpg (public-domain) 
Photo: Jerry "Woody" from Edmonton, Canada / Wikimedia Commons (cc-by-sa-2.0) — https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:U.S.A._1862_-ONE_CENT_b_-_Flickr_-_woody1778a.jpg (cc-by-sa-2.0) 
Photo: Hewittn / Wikimedia Commons (cc-by-sa-3.0) — https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:1864_Indian_Head_cent.JPG (cc-by-sa-3.0) 
Photo: Brandon Grossardt for the image; James B. Longacre for the coin design. / Wikimedia Commons (public-domain) — https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:1909_Indian_Cent_NGC_MS65RD_Obverse.png (public-domain) 
Photo: about.com / Wikimedia Commons (public-domain) — https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:1888_Indian_Head_cent-obverse.jpg (public-domain) 
Photo: Fred Bauder took the photo. Coin design by James B Longacre. / Wikimedia Commons (public-domain) — https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Smintmark1908indianhead.jpg (public-domain) 
Photo: Jerry "Woody" from Edmonton, Canada / Wikimedia Commons (cc-by-sa-2.0) — https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:U.S.A._1862_-ONE_CENT_a_-_Flickr_-_woody1778a.jpg (cc-by-sa-2.0)
Reverse
Photo: Unknown authorUnknown author / Wikimedia Commons (public-domain) — https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:1888_cent_rev.jpg (public-domain) 
Photo: Coke204, on ebay / Wikimedia Commons (public-domain) — https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:1859_Indian_Head_cent_reverse.png (public-domain) 
Photo: Brandon Grossardt for the image; James B. Longacre for the coin design. / Wikimedia Commons (public-domain) — https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:1909_Indian_Cent_NGC_MS65RD_Reverse.png (public-domain)
ii.
Specifications
| Designer | James Barton Longacre |
|---|---|
| Composition | 88% copper / 12% nickel (1859–1864); 95% copper / 5% tin & zinc (1864–1909) |
| Weight | 3.11 g |
| Diameter | 19 mm |
| Edge | Plain |
| Series | Indian Head Cent |
| Years issued | 1859–1909 |
iii.
Key dates & varieties
| Year | Mintmark | Variety | Mintage | Rarity |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1864 | P | L on Ribbon | — | semi-key |
| 1872 | P | — | 4.0M | semi-key |
| 1877 | P | — | 853K | key |
| 1888 | P | Overdate 1888/7 | — | key |
| 1909 | S | — | 309K | key |