Indian Head Penny 1890,  1891, and 1892
AA20-CNP7025 Antique

Description: Indian Head Penny 1890,  1891, and 1892 (one Cent $0.01)

The Indian head penny was created to replace the Flying Eagle cent because the United States Mint was having problems striking the Flying Eagle cent uniformly. Under direction from Mint Director James Ross Snowden, James B. Longacre designed the replacement. The reverse design stayed relatively the same while Longacre replaced the obverse design with an allegorical figure of Lady Liberty wearing an Indian headdress.

Longacre first used this allegorical figure idea on the 1854 one dollar gold piece. The reverse design was very similar to the preceding Flying Eagle reverse. In the first year (1859) the reverse had a laurel wreath surrounding the words ONE CENT. In 1860, Longacre changed the wreath on the reverse side to a wreath made of oak leaves with the Union Shield at the top of the wreath.

Due to the rising cost of raw materials during the Civil War, the composition was changed midway through 1864 from a mixture of copper and nickel to a bronze alloy. Additionally, Congress approved a reduction in the weight from 4.67 grams to 3.11 grams. Production of these cents continued through 1909 when the Treasury Department replaced it with the Lincoln cent that commemorated the 100th anniversary of his birth. 

Indian Head penny values and prices have remained historically flat when corrected for inflation.

However, there are a few key dates and varieties that appreciate at a faster rate.

Detailed Specifications

Issuing Government    $0.01 (One Cent)

Coinage Type                  Indian Head Cent (a.k.a. Indian Head Penny)
Dates                                   1859 to 1909
Production Facilities    1859 to 1864: 8.92 (copper-nickel)                                                                                        1864 to 1909: 8.84 (bronze)
Mint Mark Location:     Philadelphia / Denver / San Francisco
On the reverse, at the bottom below the bow on the wreath.
(1908 & 1909 only)
Composition:       1859 to 1864: 88% copper, 12% nickel (copper-nickel)                                              1864 to 1909: 95% copper, 5% tin and zinc (bronze)Actual Gold Weight ( 0.0000 Troy Ounces ) (contains no gold)
Actual Silver Weight  (ASW) 0.0000 Troy Ounces   (contains no silver)
Actual Platinum Weight  () 0.0000 Troy Ounces   (contains no Platinum)
Diameter  19 mm -- Thickness  1859 to 1864: 2.33 mm
                                                        1864 to 1909: 1.55 mm
Edge Type    Plain 

Obverse Description Lady Liberty wearing an Indian headdress facing left, UNITED STATES OF AMERICA around perimeter with date at bottom

Obverse Designer & Engraver
James B. Longacre Reverse Description 1859: ONE CENT inside laurel wreath 1860 to 1909: ONE CENT inside a wreath made of oak leaves with a Union Shield at the top

Reverse Designer & Engraver James B. Longacre
(Krause-Mishler Catalog No.)  Difficulties in properly striking the copper-nickel composition led to the decision to change the composition to bronze in the middle of 1864 to 1859: 87
1860 to 1864: 90
1864 to 1909:  90a

Production  Years, Mints and Types
The Indian Head penny was minted from 1859 until 1909 and in two different mint facilities: Philadelphia, and Denver.  Learn about the years, strike type, mint facilities, the mint mark used on the coin and a description of any type differences in coins minted for that year. Indian Head Penny mintage and production figures are reflective of the time in which they were made.

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