Indian Head Cents Penny Price Guide
1859-1909
The United States Indian Head Cents
The United States Indian Head Cents
| Year | Type | Mintage | XF40 | XF45 | AU50 | AU55 | AU58 | MS62 | MS63 | MS64 | MS65 | MS66 | MS67 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1859 | 36,400,000 | $125 | $145 | $175 | $290 | $300 | $500 | $700 | $1,800 | $2,750 | $4,500 | - | |
| 1860 P | 20,566,000 | $75 | $80 | $90 | $130 | $195 | $275 | $450 | $550 | - | $2,350 | $11,100 | |
| 1860 P | Pointed Bust | $100 | $115 | $140 | $200 | $345 | $350 | $650 | $950 | $2,350 | - | - | |
| 1861 P | 10,100,000 | $100 | $110 | $175 | $200 | $225 | $300 | $400 | $600 | $1,100 | $2,200 | $15,100 | |
| 1862 P | 28,075,000 | $50 | $70 | $80 | $100 | $125 | $200 | $375 | $500 | $1,000 | $2,500 | $26,400 | |
| 1863 P | 49,840,000 | $40 | $50 | $90 | $100 | $120 | $200 | $375 | $500 | $1,100 | $2,000 | $20,000 | |
| 1864 P | 13,740,000 | $90 | $100 | $110 | $155 | $165 | $250 | $400 | $500 | $1,000 | $2,000 | - |
Very subtle variation in the 1864 Indian Head Cent minting process. Some 1864 Indian Head cents have an L on the Indian's headdress - behind the neck. Other 1864 Indian Head cents have the L removed. Coin collectors tend to pay a premium for the L On Ribbon 1864 Indian Head cents.
| Year | Type | Mintage | XF40 | XF45 | AU50 | AU55 | AU58 | MS62 | MS63 | MS64 | MS65 | MS66 | MS67 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1864 P | With L On Ribbon | $200 | $250 | $300 | $350 | $400 | $490 | $750 | $900 | $1,800 | $3,200 | - | |
| 1864 P | No L On Ribbon | $50 | $60 | $75 | $90 | $120 | $325 | $340 | $375 | $600 | $1,300 | $13,200 |
In 1865 there were 2 main variations of Indian Head cents. A Plain 5 and a Fancy 5. The Fancy 5 features a top of the 5 that distinctly curves upward. The Plain 5 has a far more subtle curve to the top of the 5. The value of both are somewhat similar but can fluctuate a bit.
| Year | Type | AU55 | AU58 | MS62 RB | MS63 RB | MS64 RB | MS65 RB |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1865 | Plain 5 | $100 | $125 | $225 | $320 | $580 | $800 |
| 1865 | Fancy 5 | $85 | $125 | $210 | $320 | $480 | $800 |
| Year | Mintage | F12 | XF35 | XF40 | XF45 | AU50 | AU53 | AU55 | AU58 | MS61 BN | MS62 BN | MS63 RB | MS64 RB | MS65 RB | MS66 RB |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1866 P | 9,826,500 | $100 | $115 | $155 | $160 | $180 | $205 | $220 | $260 | $320 | $375 | $455 | $750 | $900 | $2,100 |
| 1867 P | 9,821,000 | $110 | $125 | $150 | $175 | $190 | $200 | $215 | $300 | $325 | $375 | $435 | $950 | $1,050 | $2,500 |
| 1868 P | 10,266,500 | $65 | $120 | $155 | $190 | $200 | $220 | $230 | $260 | $275 | $325 | $425 | $725 | $1,000 | $1,400 |
| 1869 P | 6,420,000 | $200 | $320 | $340 | $400 | $450 | $500 | $520 | $600 | $675 | $700 | $1,000 | $1,250 | $1,600 | $3,000 |
1869/9 9 over 9 Indian Head cents will feature a doubling of the 9 in the 1869 Date. On auction & coin dealer websites, these are listed as either 1869/69 or 1869/9 repunched date. There are several Richard Snow identified varieties, but most are just variations of the Snow-3 / FS-301 where the doubling occurs over the 9.
| Year | Type | G4 | VF25 | XF40 | XF45 | AU50 | MS66 RB | MS66 RD |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1869 P | 1869/69 Snow-3 FS-301 | $90 | $575 | $650 | $900 | $1,000 | $3,400 | $18,000 |
The differences between a "Shallow N" and "Bold N" Indian Head cent is easier to determine in-person versus a photo. The "Bold N" variety mainly refers to the fact the letter "N" in One Cent on the reverse of the coin sits higher 3-Dimensionally than a "Shallow N" variety which sits lower and smoother to the coin. For well-worn 1870-1872 Indian Head cents this can be a challenge. However there are some other differences. The distance between letters is closer on the "Shallow N" variety. Also, the formation of the middle strike in the letter "E" is slightly different as well.
| Year | Type | G6 | VG8 | XF45 | AU58 | MS62 BN | MS64 RB | MS65 RB |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1870 P | Shallow N / FS-901 | $100 | $150 | $400 | $650 | $750 | $900 | $2,000 |
| 1870 P | Bold N | $70 | $100 | $330 | $545 | $600 | $950 | $2,000 |
| 1871 P | Shallow N / FS-901 | $150 | $190 | $500 | $1,900 | $2,200 | $3,000 | - |
| 1871 P | Bold N | $85 | $95 | $400 | $590 | $625 | $1,350 | $1,900 |
| 1872 P | Shallow N / FS-901 | $150 | $200 | $500 | $800 | $1,000 | $2,200 | $3,000 |
| 1871 P | Bold N | $120 | $150 | $465 | $700 | $750 | $2,200 | $2,500 |
The 1873 "Open 3" Indian Head Cent has a larger opening on the 3 in the date. The "Closed 3" Indian Head Cent has a more narrow - closed gap in the 3.
| Year | Type | XF40 | AU55 | MS62 BN | MS64 RB | MS65 RB | MS66 RB | MS66 RD |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1873 P | Open 3 | $135 | $225 | $345 | $950 | $1,400 | $3,400 | $5,500 |
| 1873 P | Closed 3 | $175 | $400 | $525 | $1,100 | $2,100 | $3,700 | $45,600 |
A highly collectible and valuable 1873 Indian Head Cent variation are the "Doubled Liberty" versions. There are several variations within the 1873 Doubled Liberty Indian Head cent, but broadly the Liberty is strongly doubled on the headdress.
| Year | Type | VF20 | VF25 | XF40 | AU50 | MS62 BN | MS63 RB | MS64 RB | MS65 RB |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1873 P | Snow-1 / FS-101 | $825 | $1,200 | $4,000 | $5,000 | $6,000 | $8,200 | - | $48,000 |
| 1873 P | Snow-1b / FS-101 | - | - | - | - | - | $21,000 | - | $66,000 |
| 1873 P | Snow-2 / FS-102 | - | $350 | - | $1,500 | - | - | $26,500 | - |
| Year | Mintage | XF40 | AU53 | AU58 | MS61 BN | MS63 RB | MS64 RB | MS65 RD | MS66 RD |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1874 P | 14,187,500 | $100 | $125 | $165 | $210 | $300 | $450 | $4,000 | $8,000 |
| 1875 P | 13,528,000 | $100 | $165 | $190 | $200 | $400 | $550 | $2,600 | $7,000 |
| 1876 P | 7,944,000 | $135 | $225 | $300 | $325 | $500 | $700 | $2,300 | $4,600 |
The 1877 Indian Head Cent is particularly significant because just 852,500 were minted - making it one of the lowest runs of the Indian Head cent era. This makes any 1877 Indian Head Cent very collectible and valuable - especially in mint condition.
| Year | Mintage | AG3 | VG8 | VG10 | VF30 | XF45 | AU53 | AU55 | MS63 BN | MS64 BN | MS65 RB |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1877 P | 852,500 | $400 | $650 | $800 | $1,500 | $2,200 | $3,000 | $3,200 | $6,000 | $8,000 | $16,200 |
| Year | Mintage | F15 | VF35 | XF45 | AU55 | AU58 | MS64 BN | MS65 RB | MS65 RD |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1878 P | 5,799,850 | $100 | $170 | $200 | $225 | $300 | $400 | $825 | $1,700 |
| 1879 P | 16,228,000 | $20 | $50 | $80 | $90 | $100 | $265 | $450 | $1,600 |
| 1880 P | 38,961,000 | $10 | $25 | $30 | $50 | $75 | $160 | $475 | $1,750 |
| 1881 P | 39,208,000 | $10 | $25 | $30 | $50 | $75 | $160 | $475 | $900 |
| 1882 P | 38,578,000 | $10 | $25 | $30 | $50 | $75 | $160 | $475 | $1,200 |
| 1883 P | 45,591,500 | $10 | $25 | $30 | $50 | $100 | $190 | $475 | $600 |
| 1884 P | 23,257,800 | $15 | $30 | $50 | $90 | $100 | $275 | $550 | $1,400 |
| 1885 P | 11,761,594 | $15 | $30 | $50 | $90 | $100 | $225 | $700 | $1,250 |
On the Type 2 design variation the lowest headdress feather points between CA in AMERICA. Collectors believe the Type 2 design is slightly harder to find than the Type 1 variant. The Type 1 variant headdress feather points between the IC in AMERICA.
| Year | Type | F15 | VF35 | XF45 | AU55 | AU58 | MS64 BN | MS65 RB | MS65 RD |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1886 P | Type 1 | $60 | $90 | $180 | $200 | $225 | $350 | $1,400 | $2,700 |
| 1886 P | Type 2 | $75 | $100 | $200 | $225 | $250 | $475 | $1,500 | $10,000 |
| Year | Mintage | F15 | VF35 | XF45 | AU55 | AU58 | MS64 BN | MS65 RB | MS65 RD |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1887 P | 45,223,523 | $20 | $40 | $50 | $60 | $75 | $155 | $225 | $3,200 |
| 1888 P | 37,489,832 | $50 | $60 | $70 | $80 | $100 | $275 | $900 | $1,200 |
| 1889 P | 48,866,025 | $50 | $60 | $70 | $100 | $125 | $200 | $450 | $1,200 |
| 1890 P | 57,180,114 | $10 | $20 | $30 | $40 | $100 | $140 | $650 | $1,000 |
| 1891 P | 47,070,000 | $30 | $40 | $60 | $70 | $100 | $150 | $690 | $900 |
| 1892 P | 37,647,087 | $30 | $40 | $60 | $70 | $100 | $170 | $550 | $1,100 |
| 1893 P | 46,640,000 | $10 | $20 | $30 | $40 | $60 | $125 | $400 | $900 |
| 1894 P | 16,749,500 | $30 | $40 | $50 | $70 | $80 | $175 | $700 | $1,100 |
| 1895 P | 38,341,574 | $10 | $20 | $30 | $40 | $60 | $125 | $200 | $750 |
| 1896 P | 39,055,431 | $10 | $15 | $20 | $30 | $50 | $100 | $200 | $950 |
| 1897 P | 50,464,392 | $10 | $15 | $20 | $25 | $45 | $95 | $400 | $900 |
| 1898 P | 49,821,284 | $10 | $15 | $20 | $25 | $45 | $95 | $300 | $800 |
| 1899 P | 53,598,000 | $10 | $15 | $20 | $25 | $45 | $125 | $250 | $700 |
| 1900 P | 66,831,502 | $8 | $10 | $15 | $20 | $40 | $95 | $300 | $550 |
| 1901 P | 79,609,158 | $8 | $10 | $15 | $20 | $40 | $110 | $275 | $575 |
| 1902 P | 87,374,704 | $8 | $10 | $15 | $20 | $40 | $100 | $275 | $575 |
| 1903 P | 85,092,703 | $8 | $10 | $15 | $20 | $40 | $95 | $275 | $600 |
| 1904 P | 61,326,198 | $8 | $10 | $15 | $20 | $40 | $95 | $250 | $600 |
| 1905 P | 80,717,011 | $8 | $10 | $15 | $20 | $40 | $80 | $200 | $650 |
| 1906 P | 96,020,530 | $8 | $10 | $15 | $20 | $40 | $80 | $250 | $600 |
| 1907 P | 108,137,143 | $8 | $10 | $15 | $20 | $40 | $90 | $190 | $600 |
| 1908 P | 32,326,367 | $8 | $10 | $15 | $20 | $40 | $90 | $190 | $675 |
| 1908 S | 1,115,000 | $100 | $140 | $165 | $220 | $275 | $600 | $1,600 | $2,500 |
| 1909 P | 14,368,470 | $8 | $10 | $15 | $20 | $40 | $95 | $265 | $650 |
| 1909 S | 309,000 | $375 | $450 | $575 | $800 | $900 | $1,750 | $2,200 | $3,250 |
How about an Indian Head cent that was nearly 150 years old but only surfaced in the year 2000. This very unique and unusual 1859 P Indian Head Cent features a double-obverse … or two heads on each side of the coin. It’s believed that this mint error was discovered by the United States Mint production team in 1859 - but one coin was kept as a souvenir. Curiously, the coin can no longer be found in the PCGS database - it’s possible the coin was placed in a new holder. The only recorded sale of the coin was a record for Indian Head cents - selling for an astonishing $195,500 in July 2008.
The 1864 Indian Head Cent “With L” is one of the most desired coins in the Indian Head cent series. However, Proof examples are among the most desired coins in existence. It’s estimated just 20 1864 Indian Head Cents “With L” were minted. The L is visible behind the neck of the Indian Head and is an initial for the coins designer James Longacre. These coins rarely come up for auction, but have traded hands several times over the years. A PCGS PR65RB sold in 1999 for $96,000. Then this example shown in an “Old Green Holder” with CAC certification sold for $161,000 in October 2011. A different version of the same coin sold for $135,125 in August 2012. And finally, this coin re-sold in May 2015 for $108,687.
The finest known condition of the 1864 L on Ribbon Indian Head Cent proof is PR65 Red Cameo. Simply a spectacular condition on a coin with an estimated 20 copies in existence. This coin has traded hands a few times over the years. First, an NGC PR65 sold for $141,000 in August 2014. Then the coin seen here in a PCGS holder sold for $152,750 in April 2016. The owner of the coin is open to offers today, with a starting price of $229,125 to just get the owner to think about selling this extremely rare Indian Head cent proof coin.
The 1877 Indian Head Cent is the lowest mintage of the series. It’s believed that 852,500 coins were minted, however some coin experts believe that potentially less were actually minted. The top grade seen here is the PCGS MS66 Red, and when this coin comes up for auction - it usually sets a record. Auction records date back to 1999 with coin selling for $55,000 in August 1999. Over the years the value of MS66 Red 1877 Indian Head cents steadily climbs - reaching a record sale price twice of $149,500 in 2007 and 2009. Most recently this coin sold for $114,000 in August 2019.
Mint error coins are always collectible and curious to how they surface. It’s believed that this 1905 Indian Head cent struck on a $2 Gold Planchet was deliberately made by Mint officials at the time for collectors. Only a handful of Gold & Silver planchet struck Indian Head cents are in existence - with this being the only one from 1905. Coins like this rarely change hands as the owner will likely never have another chance to buy the same or similar coin in their lifetime. This coin sold for $123,375 in April 2015.
This coin is believed to be the only Indian Head cent graded graded near perfect PCGS MS68 Red. In the PCGS population report - there are 2 coins listed, but experts believe this is a mistake or duplicate entry - making this the finest known Indian Head cent ever minted and graded. This coin has traded hands a few times over the years. First in 2003 for $69,000, then again in 2009 for $97,750. Most recently this beauty sold for $108,000 in August 2019.
Richard Snow notes the rarity of the 1869 Indian Head cent, largely due to the Mint Act of April 22, 1864, which caused mass melting of small cents and two cent pieces in the late 1860s. This was because the act didn't offer redemption for these coins and banks often refused large deposits of them. Consequently, over 55 million bronze cents were melted in the following decade, significantly reducing the 1869 cent's availability, which had a modest mintage of 6.4 million.
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