Category Archives: James Barton Longacre

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1865 Two Cent Piece : A Collector’s Guide

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1865 Two-Cent Piece. Image: CoinWeek / NGC.
1865 Two-Cent Piece. Image: CoinWeek / NGC.

 

First struck in 1864 in an attempt to solve the nationwide coin shortage, caused by the onset of the U.S. Civil War, the Two Cent piece never truly caught on and suffered from a consistently shrinking mintage. As only the second issuance, the 1865 type still had a significant mintage of 13,640,000 specimens (for comparison’s sake, the Mint would strike only 3,177,000 coins in 1866, a further 77% decrease). As such, the 1865 is the second-most-common date after the 1864 Large Motto type. The years of high mintages ended with the conclusion of pitched battle and the slow release of hoarded coins, a process that gradually negated the need for this odd denomination.

In God We Trust Is Adopted on Other Coins

The major innovation resulting from this denomination was the use of the motto “In God We Trust”. So popular was this new addition that Congress passed legislation on March 3, 1865 to mandate its placement on all coins large enough to contain it. Implemented in 1866, this included all gold coins as well as the silver dollar, half-dollar coin, and quarter, as well as the three-cent nickel. Later, in the Coinage Act of February 12, 1873, Congress ordered the motto be “inscribed on such coins as shall admit” it.

1865 Two-Cent Piece Varieties Worth Collecting

Adding interest to this date for type collectors is the large number of die-punch varieties, the two most famous of which are the Plain 5 and the Fancy 5. The Plain 5 displays a normal crossbar on the five in 1865, while the Fancy 5 has a distinctly curved or flipped arm. While PCGS did not denote this until recently, they have now begun offering the designation. Since then, the combined population of PCGS and NGC Fancy 5 1865 Two Cent coins totals only 427 pieces, of which 44 total are designated as Red (RD) (the rest being either Brown (B) or Red Brown (RB)). Interestingly, NGC only records one Fancy 5 1865 RD example, graded MS 66.

How Much is the1865 Two-Cent Piece Worth?

Like all copper coins, the 1865 Two Cent piece’s value is heavily dependent on its grade and, if in Mint State, its color designation. As a result, if a collector is not particular about having an RD-designated coin, then it’s relatively easy to find a BN or RB example in up to low Mint State grade. In lower circulated grades, the 1865 Two-Cent piece is worth about $15 to $20. This price increases to $50 to $85 in high circulated grades.

Coins certified by CAC, NGC, and PCGS will sell for a premium. An October 2023 listing on eBay for a PCGS-graded 1865 Two-Cent piece graded AU55 sold for $131. In November 2023, an NGC AU53BN sold for $120.

Fully red examples are relatively easily available in grades up to MS 65. However, the total combined population of all RD examples in MS 66, graded by both NGC and PCGS, consists of only 72 coins. From this total, CAC has approved 25 coins. To date, CAC has not yet encapsulated coins in its own holder at this grade. Meanwhile, only three MS 67s are are reported at NGC and PCGS in both the Plain 5 and Fancy 5 varieties, making it a true condition rarity.

Collectors should be aware that while the Fancy 5 variety is slightly rarer than the Plain 5, it does not hold a significant premium. One MS67 Fancy 5 example, sold by Heritage Auctions in their January 9, 2014, sale, hammered for $25,850 USD. Despite being one of the first pieces to earn the Fancy 5 designation from PCGS, this coin proved to be an outlier. It displays the soft orange of a true red copper coin and is simply dripping with luster. Similarly nice examples that were graded MS 66+ earn less than half of the astronomical auction record. Instead, a MS 66+ RD Fancy 5 with an extremely sharp strike and smooth satin copper luster hammered for $10,200 in 2020. A coin with the same grade was sold in 2021 for $8,225; this coin, however, has a significant reverse die crack and die cud.

Design

Obverse:

As one of the few American coin series not to feature a bust on the obverse, United States Mint Chief Engraver James B. Longacre decided to use his own interpretation of the Great Seal of the United States as the main device. By focusing on the defensive shield with six vertical and 20 horizontal bars, the shield strikes a markedly different tone. The shield stands in front of a pair of crossed arrows, which, while martial in nature, actually represent alliance and friendship for many Native American cultures. Behind the arrows is the traditional symbol of victory, a laurel leaf. The date 1865 is placed in the empty field below the shield. Lastly, surmounting the entire design is a flowing banner with the motto “In God We Trust”. Taken cumulatively, the obverse is a visual display of the Federal Government’s drive to maintain the Union as the Civil War raged.

Reverse:

Centered on the reverse is an ornate wheat wreath, the arms of which encircle the denomination 2 CENTS written in two rows. The country name UNITED STATES OF AMERICA wraps around the reverse, covering more than three-quarters of the empty fields outside of the wheat wreath. Lastly, since the Philadelphia Mint was responsible for striking all Two Cent pieces, the design does not include a mintmark.

Edge:

The edge of the 1865 Two Cent piece is smooth or plain.

Designer

James Barton Longacre (1794-1869) was one of the most famous US engraver and medallic artists of the 19th century. Longacre was appointed the fourth Chief Engraver of the United States Mint by President John Tyler after Christian Gobrecht died in 1844. Before his appointment, Longacre worked for the Philadelphia engraving company Murray, Draper, Fairman & Co. until he began working for himself in 1819. As an independent engraver, Longacre produced a series of famous plates that featured the Founding Fathers, President Andrew Jackson, and Senator John C. Calhoun. Once he became Chief Engraver at the Mint, he produced such famous pieces as the Flying Eagle cent, the Indian Head cent, the Shield nickel, and the Coronet Head $20 double eagle gold coin.

Coin Specifications

Country:  USA
Year Of Issue:  1865
Denomination:  Two Cents
Mint Mark: None (Philadelphia)
Mintage: 13,640,000
Alloy:  95% Copper, 5% Tin and Zinc
Weight:  6.22 g
Diameter:  23.00 mm
Edge: Smooth
OBV Designer  James Barton Longacre
REV Designer  James Barton Longacre
Quality: Business Strike

 

* * *

Sources

https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/CRPT-112hrpt47/html/CRPT-112hrpt47.htm

The post 1865 Two Cent Piece : A Collector’s Guide appeared first on CoinWeek: Rare Coin, Currency, and Bullion News for Collectors.

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classic us coins, indian Head cents, James Barton Longacre, small cents, US Coins, US copper coins

1859 Indian Head Cent : A Collector’s Guide

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1859 Indian Head Cent. Image: CoinWeek.
1859 Indian Head Cent. Image: CoinWeek.

The Indian Head Cent Replaces the Flying Eagle

The story of the 1859 Indian Head cent should probably begin in 1856, when the United States Mint first struck small cents following a decade of concern about the rising cost of copper. At the time, the United States was producing two copper coins: a 10.89 gram “large cent” that measured 27.5 mm in diameter and a 5.44 gram half cent that measured 23 mm. The basis for these sizes and weights was the cost of the metal minus some small fee for the government to produce the coins.

As this relationship was no longer economincally sustainable, the United States Congress opted to eliminate the half cent and shrink the size of the cent down to the 19 mm standard we’re all familiar with today. In 1856, James Barton Longacre, the Mint’s fourth Chief Engraver, adapted an eagle motif from his predecessor, Christian Gobrecht, for the new one-cent coin. That coin design became known as the Flying Eagle cent.

These first small cents were struck of an alloy composed of 88 percent copper and 12 percent nickel, as required by law. This hard metal alloy proved difficult to strike and caused dies to fail prematurely. The Mint found fault with the Flying Eagle design and quickly sought an alternative.

Tests conducted in 1858 found that Longacre’s new design featuring Lady Liberty wearing an Indian headdress would lead to longer die life.

Mint Director James Ross Snowden liked the design, and wrote a letter on November 4, 1858 to Treasury Secretary Howell Cobb, suggesting that a change be made in the design of the Flying Eagle cent. He pointed out that its relief was too high, and that the design did not seem too acceptable to the public. Snowden submitted models for a new design, and Secretary Cobb gave his approval to what later became the Indian Head cent.

The Indian Head cent went into production in January 1859 and would be struck for 50 years, when the Mint marked the centennial of President Abraham Lincoln’s birth with the release of the Lincoln cent in 1909.

Early Changes to the Indian Head Cent

While the Indian Head cent was struck from 1859 to 1909, major changes to the design were made to the cent in 1860 and 1864.

The 1859 Indian Head cent features Longacre’s Liberty wearing an Indian headdress motif on the obverse and a simple laurel wreath on the reverse. This coin, like the “failed” Flying Eagle cent, was struck in a hard copper-nickel alloy.


Left: 1859 Indian Head “Laurel Wreath” reverse. Right: 1860 Indian Head “Oak Wreath and Shield” reverse. Image: Stack’s Bowers / CoinWeek.

For Indian Head cents struck from 1860 onward, the reverse design featured an oak wreath surmounted by a federal shield. This new wreath left less space for the denomination, which meant that the letters had to be set closer together. In our opinion, the reverse of 1860 was a marked improvement over Longacre’s original design.

The use of copper-nickel continued until partway through 1864, at which time the composition of the cent was changed to bronze. Bronze would serve the nation well for much of the next century, when a tiny amount of tin was removed from the alloy in 1959.

The Indian Head Cent’s Impact on American Coin Design

James Barton Longacre scored the job of Chief Engraver through political influence and at first, he had very little practical experience designing coins. He was, however, a talented man who learned the trade through trial and error. In time, Longacre would go on to have a tremendous influence on America’s coins that spanned beyond his tenure at the Mint.

Many popular coin types of the latter half of the 19th century were Longacre designs, including the two-cent piece, the three-cent silver and three-cent nickel, the Shield nickel, the gold dollar, the three-dollar gold coin, and the Liberty Head double eagle.

But it is Longacre’s Indian Head cent design which we feel was his most impactful. In imbuing American idealism with the unique iconography of its indigenous peoples (albeit in pastiche), he set forward an artistic movement for United States coin and medal design. In time, Native American motifs would appear on the nickel five-cent coin; the quarter eagle, half eagle, and eagle gold coins; a number of classic commemorative coin issues; and even the Sacagawea dollar.

For Longacre, the cent was a continuation of his marriage of Indian-style headgear with Liberty that began on the much less successful gold dollar and three dollar gold designs of 1854.

What Is the 1859 Indian Head Cent Worth?

As with the case for all coins, the value of the 1859 Indian Head cent depends on its current state of preservation and eye appeal. A total of 36,400,000 Indian Head cents dated 1859 were struck for circulation and they were meant to be spent. The majority of the issue entered into circulation, practically choking the streams of commerce.

With the outbreak of the American Civil War in 1861, coins of all types were quickly removed from circulation and hoarded–mainly by institutions and speculators. At the termination of the “hot” phase of the war in 1865, the Mint had replaced the metal composition of the Indian Head cent with a lighter bronze alloy. This change made the copper-nickel cents noticeably heavier and paler than their new tenor counterparts.

When such changes happen in coinage, the old type tends to be removed from circulation in favor of the new. Whether through redemption or the ravages of time, most of the 36 million 1859 Indian Head cents were lost or destroyed.

A sufficient number of coins survive, however, and this inventory provides coin collectors of all budgets the opportunity to own an 1859 Indian Head cent for as little as $15 to $20 for a specimen in Good condition up to a few hundred dollars for a slightly worn example in About Uncirculated.

Above the grade of AU, it is advisable that collectors buy only certified coins that have been graded by CAC, NGC, or PCGS – the three main third-party grading services operating in the United States.

1859 Indian Head Cents in Mint State – Top Population and Value

At the time of publication in late November 2023, NGC, PCGS, and CAC combined have graded over 7,200 1859 Indian Head cents. Due to the costs of certification, the majority of the coins submitted from this date will fall within the upper circulated grades through the Mint State grade of MS64.

NGC reports one coin at its top grade of MS67. PCGS reports 11 grading events at its top grade of MS66+. CAC has not encapsulated any coin above MS65, but has applied its approval sticker to 17 coins at the MS66 level (please note: CAC’s sticker service does not account for the plus grades assigned to a coin by NGC or PCGS).

In Mint State grades, the 1859 Indian Head cent is more affordable today than it has been at any point in the past 10 years. In Choice Mint State MS63, examples have realized prices ranging from $550 to $800 at auction in 2023. Gem Mint State coins at MS65 have sold for between $2,200 and $2,500. At the upper end, a non-CAC-approved example graded MS66+ sold at GreatCollections for $17,718.75. A decade ago, this coin would have likely sold for $25,000 or more.

As with anything related to rare coins, timing is important. When two or more knowledgable bidders vie for the same piece, the price realized will often be far more than the published “value” of the coin. Eye appeal, provenance, and advanced features like die marriage, die state, and die variety can also greatly impact a coin’s value.

1859 Indian Head Cent in Proof

In addition to the 36 million 1859 Indian Head cents struck for circulation, the Philadelphia Mint also produced approximately 800 Proof examples. Proof coins have mirrored surfaces and were struck with two blows from the dies. Coin expert Rick Snow has written that he believes half of this mintage was released into circulation after the coins went unsold. Determining whether a circulated or impaired coin is a Proof or a business strike can be tricky and is best left to the experts.

Proof coins are comparable in price to their business strike counterparts but considerably scarcer. The reasons for this parity is the prevailing belief that business strike coins and Proof strikes make up different collecting specialties and that the two coin styles are not interchangeable when it comes to set building. In the 19th century, attitudes were different, and collectors of the time were satisfied with owning a Proof example of each year’s coinage output. Attitudes shifted once collecting coins by mintmark took root in the early 20th century.

The Indian Head Cent Story Continues…

A Superb Gem 1860 Indian Head Cent. Image: CoinWeek/ GreatCollections.
A Superb Gem 1860 Indian Head Cent. Image: CoinWeek/ GreatCollections.

Learn more about the Indian Head cent by reading our collector’s guide on the copper-nickel issues of 1860-64.

Design

Obverse:

The obverse of the coin shows the legend UNITED STATES OF AMERICA and an Indian head facing to the left, wearing a feather bonnet. The word LIBERTY is shown on the band across the bonnet, and shows the production date below.

Reverse:

The coin’s reverse side shows the denomination, written out as ONE CENT, within a laurel wreath. In 1860, the reverse design was changed slightly, showing ONE CENT within an oak wreath, with three arrows inserted under the ribbon that binds the two branches of the wreath. Above and between the ends of the branches is the shield of the United States. As such, the 1859 Indian Head Cent is a one-year type coin which enjoys continuing popularity among Indian Head Cent collectors and type collector alike.

Edge:

The edge of the 1859 Indian Head cent is plain or smooth, without reeding or lettering.

Coin Specifications

Indian Head Cent : Laurel Wreath Reverse
Years Of Issue:  1859
Mintage (Circulation):  36,400,000
Mintage (Proof):  800
Alloy: Copper .880, Nickel .120
Weight:  4.67 grams
Diameter:  19.00 mm
Edge:  Plain
OBV Designer  James Barton Longacre
REV Designer  James Barton Longacre

 

* * *

Additional Resources

Bowers, Q. David. The Experts Guide to Collecting & Investing in Rare Coins. Whitman Publishing.

Breen, Walter. Walter Breen’s Encyclopedia of U.S. Coins. Doubleday.

Guth, Ron and Jeff Garrett. United States Coinage: A Study by Type. Whitman Publishing.

Snow, Richard. A Guide Book of Flying Eagle and Indian Head Cents. Whitman Publishing.

—. The Flying Eagle & Indian Cent Attribution Guide, 3rd Edition. Self published.

Yeoman, R.S and Kenneth Bressett (editor). The Official Red Book: A Guide Book of United States Coins. Whitman Publishing.

* * *

The post 1859 Indian Head Cent : A Collector’s Guide appeared first on CoinWeek: Rare Coin, Currency, and Bullion News for Collectors.

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classic us coins, indian Head cents, James Barton Longacre, small cents, US Coins, US copper coins

1859 Indian Head Cent : A Collector’s Guide

Leave a comment
1859 Indian Head Cent. Image: CoinWeek.
1859 Indian Head Cent. Image: CoinWeek.

The Indian Head Cent Replaces the Flying Eagle

The story of the 1859 Indian Head cent should probably begin in 1856, when the United States Mint first struck small cents following a decade of concern about the rising cost of copper. At the time, the United States was producing two copper coins: a 10.89 gram “large cent” that measured 27.5 mm in diameter and a 5.44 gram half cent that measured 23 mm. The basis for these sizes and weights was the cost of the metal minus some small fee for the government to produce the coins.

As this relationship was no longer economincally sustainable, the United States Congress opted to eliminate the half cent and shrink the size of the cent down to the 19 mm standard we’re all familiar with today. In 1856, James Barton Longacre, the Mint’s fourth Chief Engraver, adapted an eagle motif from his predecessor, Christian Gobrecht, for the new one-cent coin. That coin design became known as the Flying Eagle cent.

These first small cents were struck of an alloy composed of 88 percent copper and 12 percent nickel, as required by law. This hard metal alloy proved difficult to strike and caused dies to fail prematurely. The Mint found fault with the Flying Eagle design and quickly sought an alternative.

Tests conducted in 1858 found that Longacre’s new design featuring Lady Liberty wearing an Indian headdress would lead to longer die life.

Mint Director James Ross Snowden liked the design, and wrote a letter on November 4, 1858 to Treasury Secretary Howell Cobb, suggesting that a change be made in the design of the Flying Eagle cent. He pointed out that its relief was too high, and that the design did not seem too acceptable to the public. Snowden submitted models for a new design, and Secretary Cobb gave his approval to what later became the Indian Head cent.

The Indian Head cent went into production in January 1859 and would be struck for 50 years, when the Mint marked the centennial of President Abraham Lincoln’s birth with the release of the Lincoln cent in 1909.

Early Changes to the Indian Head Cent

While the Indian Head cent was struck from 1859 to 1909, major changes to the design were made to the cent in 1860 and 1864.

The 1859 Indian Head cent features Longacre’s Liberty wearing an Indian headdress motif on the obverse and a simple laurel wreath on the reverse. This coin, like the “failed” Flying Eagle cent, was struck in a hard copper-nickel alloy.


Left: 1859 Indian Head “Laurel Wreath” reverse. Right: 1860 Indian Head “Oak Wreath and Shield” reverse. Image: Stack’s Bowers / CoinWeek.

For Indian Head cents struck from 1860 onward, the reverse design featured an oak wreath surmounted by a federal shield. This new wreath left less space for the denomination, which meant that the letters had to be set closer together. In our opinion, the reverse of 1860 was a marked improvement over Longacre’s original design.

The use of copper-nickel continued until partway through 1864, at which time the composition of the cent was changed to bronze. Bronze would serve the nation well for much of the next century, when a tiny amount of tin was removed from the alloy in 1959.

The Indian Head Cent’s Impact on American Coin Design

James Barton Longacre scored the job of Chief Engraver through political influence and at first, he had very little practical experience designing coins. He was, however, a talented man who learned the trade through trial and error. In time, Longacre would go on to have a tremendous influence on America’s coins that spanned beyond his tenure at the Mint.

Many popular coin types of the latter half of the 19th century were Longacre designs, including the two-cent piece, the three-cent silver and three-cent nickel, the Shield nickel, the gold dollar, the three-dollar gold coin, and the Liberty Head double eagle.

But it is Longacre’s Indian Head cent design which we feel was his most impactful. In imbuing American idealism with the unique iconography of its indigenous peoples (albeit in pastiche), he set forward an artistic movement for United States coin and medal design. In time, Native American motifs would appear on the nickel five-cent coin; the quarter eagle, half eagle, and eagle gold coins; a number of classic commemorative coin issues; and even the Sacagawea dollar.

For Longacre, the cent was a continuation of his marriage of Indian-style headgear with Liberty that began on the much less successful gold dollar and three dollar gold designs of 1854.

What Is the 1859 Indian Head Cent Worth?

As with the case for all coins, the value of the 1859 Indian Head cent depends on its current state of preservation and eye appeal. A total of 36,400,000 Indian Head cents dated 1859 were struck for circulation and they were meant to be spent. The majority of the issue entered into circulation, practically choking the streams of commerce.

With the outbreak of the American Civil War in 1861, coins of all types were quickly removed from circulation and hoarded–mainly by institutions and speculators. In 1864, the Mint had replaced the metal composition of the Indian Head cent with a lighter bronze alloy. This change made the copper-nickel cents noticeably heavier and paler than their new tenor counterparts.

When such changes happen in coinage, the old type tends to be removed from circulation in favor of the new. Whether through redemption or the ravages of time, most of the 36 million 1859 Indian Head cents were lost or destroyed.

A sufficient number of coins survive, however, and this inventory provides coin collectors of all budgets the opportunity to own an 1859 Indian Head cent for as little as $15 to $20 for a specimen in Good condition up to a few hundred dollars for a slightly worn example in About Uncirculated.

Above the grade of AU, it is advisable that collectors buy only certified coins that have been graded by CAC, NGC, or PCGS – the three main third-party grading services operating in the United States.

1859 Indian Head Cents in Mint State – Top Population and Value

At the time of publication in late November 2023, NGC, PCGS, and CAC combined have graded over 7,200 1859 Indian Head cents. Due to the costs of certification, the majority of the coins submitted from this date will fall within the upper circulated grades through the Mint State grade of MS64.

NGC reports one coin at its top grade of MS67. PCGS reports 11 grading events at its top grade of MS66+. CAC has not encapsulated any coin above MS65, but has applied its approval sticker to 17 coins at the MS66 level (please note: CAC’s sticker service does not account for the plus grades assigned to a coin by NGC or PCGS).

In Mint State grades, the 1859 Indian Head cent is more affordable today than it has been at any point in the past 10 years. In Choice Mint State MS63, examples have realized prices ranging from $550 to $800 at auction in 2023. Gem Mint State coins at MS65 have sold for between $2,200 and $2,500. At the upper end, a non-CAC-approved example graded MS66+ sold at GreatCollections for $17,718.75. A decade ago, this coin would have likely sold for $25,000 or more.

As with anything related to rare coins, timing is important. When two or more knowledgable bidders vie for the same piece, the price realized will often be far more than the published “value” of the coin. Eye appeal, provenance, and advanced features like die marriage, die state, and die variety can also greatly impact a coin’s value.

1859 Indian Head Cent in Proof

In addition to the 36 million 1859 Indian Head cents struck for circulation, the Philadelphia Mint also produced approximately 800 Proof examples. Proof coins have mirrored surfaces and were struck with two blows from the dies. Coin expert Rick Snow has written that he believes half of this mintage was released into circulation after the coins went unsold. Determining whether a circulated or impaired coin is a Proof or a business strike can be tricky and is best left to the experts.

Proof coins are comparable in price to their business strike counterparts but considerably scarcer. The reasons for this parity is the prevailing belief that business strike coins and Proof strikes make up different collecting specialties and that the two coin styles are not interchangeable when it comes to set building. In the 19th century, attitudes were different, and collectors of the time were satisfied with owning a Proof example of each year’s coinage output. Attitudes shifted once collecting coins by mintmark took root in the early 20th century.

The Indian Head Cent Story Continues…

A Superb Gem 1860 Indian Head Cent. Image: CoinWeek/ GreatCollections.
A Superb Gem 1860 Indian Head Cent. Image: CoinWeek/ GreatCollections.

Learn more about the Indian Head cent by reading our collector’s guide on the copper-nickel issues of 1860-64.

Design

Obverse:

The obverse of the coin shows the legend UNITED STATES OF AMERICA and an Indian head facing to the left, wearing a feather bonnet. The word LIBERTY is shown on the band across the bonnet, and shows the production date below.

Reverse:

The coin’s reverse side shows the denomination, written out as ONE CENT, within a laurel wreath. In 1860, the reverse design was changed slightly, showing ONE CENT within an oak wreath, with three arrows inserted under the ribbon that binds the two branches of the wreath. Above and between the ends of the branches is the shield of the United States. As such, the 1859 Indian Head Cent is a one-year type coin which enjoys continuing popularity among Indian Head Cent collectors and type collector alike.

Edge:

The edge of the 1859 Indian Head cent is plain or smooth, without reeding or lettering.

Coin Specifications

Indian Head Cent : Laurel Wreath Reverse
Years Of Issue:  1859
Mintage (Circulation):  36,400,000
Mintage (Proof):  800
Alloy: Copper .880, Nickel .120
Weight:  4.67 grams
Diameter:  19.00 mm
Edge:  Plain
OBV Designer  James Barton Longacre
REV Designer  James Barton Longacre

 

* * *

Additional Resources

Bowers, Q. David. The Experts Guide to Collecting & Investing in Rare Coins. Whitman Publishing.

Breen, Walter. Walter Breen’s Encyclopedia of U.S. Coins. Doubleday.

Guth, Ron and Jeff Garrett. United States Coinage: A Study by Type. Whitman Publishing.

Snow, Richard. A Guide Book of Flying Eagle and Indian Head Cents. Whitman Publishing.

—. The Flying Eagle & Indian Cent Attribution Guide, 3rd Edition. Self published.

Yeoman, R.S and Kenneth Bressett (editor). The Official Red Book: A Guide Book of United States Coins. Whitman Publishing.

* * *

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1864 Large Motto, 1864 Small Motto, 1864 Two Cents, Civil War, Civil War Coins, Coin Profiles, copper coins, Errors & Varieties, Featured Coin Profiles, Featured News, Featured US, in god we trust, James Barton Longacre, Recent Articles & Video, U.S. Coin Profile, US Coins, US copper coins

United States 1864 Two Cent Coin

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With the passage of the Coinage Act of 1864, the United States Congress authorized the design and production of a brand-new denomination, the short-lived Two Cent coin. As part of the government’s experimentation with odd denominations (including the three-cent nickel, the silver trime, the 20-cent piece, and the four-dollar stella gold coin, the two-cent piece […]

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American Numismatic History, Branch Mints, classic us coins, coin dies, Coin Production, Editors Choice, Featured News, Featured US, Home Page Editors Choice, Home Page US, James Barton Longacre, Numismatic History, Recent Articles & Video, Roger Burdette, United States Mint, US Coins

How Coin Dies Got Their Numbers

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By Roger W. Burdette, special to CoinWeek ….. The earliest United States Mint dies were anonymous lumps of steel. Except for the design faces and size, there was little to distinguish one from another. That began to change when branch mints were opened in New Orleans, Charlotte, and Dahlonega. Sometimes the Coining Department in Philadelphia, […]

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1870-S $3 Gold, 1870-S $3 Gold Coin, Abe Kosoff, American Numismatic History, B. Max Mehl, classic us coins, coin Pedigrees, Coin Profiles, coin provenance, CoinWeek IQ, CoinWeek IQ Coin Profiles, Colonel E.H.R. Green, Dave Harper, Doug Winter, Editors Choice, Famous collections, Famous collectors, Four Season Auction Gallery, H.T. VanCamp, Harry W. Bass Jr., Home Page IQ, Home Page Profiles, Home Page US, James Barton Longacre, Jeff Garrett, Joseph Breck Harmstead, Louis Eliasberg, Nancy Oliver, Numismatic History, Popular, Rare Date US Gold, Rare U.S. Coins, Rare U.S. Gold Coins, Recent Articles & Video, Richard Kelly, San Francisco Mint, U.S. Coin Profile, U.S. Gold Coins, US Coins, US Gold Coins, William H. Woodin

United States 1870-S $3 Gold Coin

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By CoinWeek IQ …..   A great numismatic rarity was interred in the northeast cornerstone of the second San Francisco Mint on May 25, 1870, during a Masonic ceremony covered by the press. Struck especially for the event using modified dies, the 1870-S $3 gold coin joined a number of other extraordinary numismatic rarities in […]

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$20 Saint-Gaudens, 1804 Dollar, 1848 CAL Quarter Eagle, 1864 Two Cents, 1866 No Motto, 50 State Quarters Program, American Numismatic History, Andrew Jackson, Augustus Saint-Gaudens, Bela Lyon Pratt, Capped Bust, Charlotte Mint, Christian Gobrecht, Clad coinage, classic us coins, Dahlonega Mint, David Rittenhouse, Early US Coins, Editors Choice, Elias Boudinot, Elizabeth Jones, Eva Adams, Fort Knox, Frank Leach, Franklin Peale, George Edward Adams, Home Page Editors Choice, Home Page Mints, in god we trust, James Barton Longacre, James Pollock, James Ross Snowden, John Reich, Levi Woodbury, Liberty Seated Coinage, Lincoln Cents, Mary O’Reilly, mint director, Modern Coins, Modern US Coins, Nellie Tayloe Ross, New Orleans Mint, Numismatic History, Numismatic Personalities, People, Philadelphia Mint, Philip Diehl, Philip N. Diehl, Recent Articles & Video, Robert M. Patterson, Robert Scot, Sacagawea Dollars, Samuel Moore, seated liberty, Theodore Roosevelt, Thomas Sully, Titian Peale, United States Mint, US Coins, US Mint Director, Victor David Brenner, William Kneass

Ten Notable US Mint Directors and What They Are Known For

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By Charles Morgan and Hubert Walker for CoinWeek …..   #1. David Rittenhouse (April 1792 – June 1795) The term “polymath” is usually employed to describe the United States Mint’s first director, David Rittenhouse. He was a mathematician, a philosopher, an astronomer, a surveyor, a master clock maker, and a patriot. At all but the […]

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United States 1865 Two Cent Piece

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First struck in 1864 in an attempt to solve the nationwide coin shortage, caused by the onset of the U.S. Civil War, the Two Cent piece never truly caught on and suffered from a consistently shrinking mintage. As only the second issuance, the 1865 type still had a significant mintage of 13,640,000 specimens (for comparison’s […]

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Rare Proof 1864 Double Eagle Sells for $613,125 at GreatColletions

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On September 25, 2022, GreatCollections is offered collectors a rare opportunity to bid on a spectacular early US Civil War Ultra Cameo Proof 1864 gold double eagle. Graded and certified by NGC as PF 65 UCAM, this highly desirable coin garnered considerable attention, registering 71 bids on its way to a final price of $613,125 […]

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United States 1901 Indian Head Cent

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With the opening of their brand-new facility at 1700 Spring Garden Street, 1901 was a big year for the United States Mint in Philadelphia. This new facility afforded the Mint a much larger production capacity through massive upgrades in equipment. Most importantly, all aspects of the production line would now be powered by electricity, and […]

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United States 1904 Liberty Head $20 Double Eagle

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By 1904, the United States’ large format gold double eagle had begun to fall in popularity and had practically ceased to circulate. As a result, production far outstripped demand, and while gold coins were still used in many of the western states, most US citizens would not use gold coins in regular commerce. This was […]

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United States 1861-D Gold Dollar

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History of the 1861 Dahlonega Gold Dollar During the lead-up to the Civil War, branch mints in the southern United States began preparing for the war. While the Treasury Department decided not to send any additional bullion, the Philadelphia Mint shipped two pairs of dies to the mint in Dahlonega, Georgia. But two weeks after […]

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United States 1864 Large Motto Two Cent Piece

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In 1864 when the Two Cent coin was first issued, the US Civil War was still raging. One effect of the war was a massive shortage of hard currency. While specie coins had disappeared from circulation quite early in the war, by ’64 even small copper cents were thin on the ground as evidenced by […]

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Rare Key Date 1854-O Double Eagle at GreatCollections

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Currently, GreatCollections is auctioning a rare 1854-O Liberty Gold Double Eagle graded AU 55 by PCGS. This rare opportunity for collectors to acquire one of the key dates in the Liberty Head Double Eagle series should not be overlooked. Bidding on this exceptional coin ends in 16 days on Sunday, June 5, 2022, 7:39:42 PM […]

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Coin Profiles – The United States $20 Liberty Double Eagle Gold Coin: 1849-1907

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Too much gold? Start minting the Liberty Double Eagle It was 1849, and the Philadelphia Mint had more Gold Rush gold than it could possibly mint. First, they minted $2.50 quarter eagles. Then half eagles. Then eagles. And still, the Mint’s coffers overflowed with unused gold (if only we all had that problem). So, Congressman […]

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The 1909-S VDB Lincoln Cent: A Popular Yet Controversial Coin

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By Blanchard & Company …… It was 1905. American coins had been sporting the same designs for over 50 years, and President Roosevelt decided that it was time for a change. He wanted our nation to have coins comparable to those of the ancient Greeks. Roosevelt initiated this effort by contacting sculptor Augustus Saint-Gaudens to […]

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United States 1861 Indian Head Cent

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By January 1861, the process of southern secession was underway, signaling the onset of America’s deadliest war. Throughout this tumultuous year, the country experienced a multitude of historic events: Abraham Lincoln would become the 16th president, the Confederate States of America was born, and the Civil War commenced. Despite the loss of its branch facilities […]

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United States 1864 Two Cent Coin

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With the passage of the Coinage Act of 1864, the United States Congress authorized the design and production of a brand-new denomination, the short-lived Two Cent coin. As part of the government’s experimentation with odd denominations (including the three-cent nickel, the silver trime, the 20-cent piece, and the three-dollar stella gold coin, the two-cent piece […]

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United States 1848 “CAL” Quarter Eagle

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The California Gold Rush may have been set off by James Wilson Marshall’s January 24, 1848 discovery of gold at Sutter’s Mill, but the commercial extraction of oro fino in California had already been underway for eight years by this time. This fact is important to understand because contrary to popular belief, the 1848 “CAL” […]

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Proof Indian Head Cents: An Overview by Decade

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Indian Head Cents by Dan Duncan – Pinnacle Rarities …… Production of the ever-popular Indian cent spanned six fascinating decades of United States history. Struck from 1859 until 1909, there are 52 Proof emission dates contained within that run, and these 52 also Proofs feature subtle die varieties and a couple of major design changes. […]

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The Uniquely American Appeal of the $3 Indian Princess Gold Coin

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By Blanchard and Company, Inc …… In 1854, United States Mint Chief Engraver James B. Longacre reached a milestone in his career. For the first time, he would choose the design for a piece of currency: in this case the three-dollar gold coin. Much of the currency up to that point favored designs that referenced […]

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Coin Profile: United States 1877 Indian Head Cent

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Description: The small “white cents”, so-called because of their light color compared to that of the older large cents, had at first escaped the hoarding of coins that came with the Civil War. But by 1862, in spite of the production of millions of the coins, the cent had also disappeared from circulation, joining the […]

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The Tumultuous Times of the 1861 Indian Princess Gold Coin

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By Blanchard and Company, Inc ….. In the wild days of the California Gold Rush (1848-1855) the supply of gold surged in the United States. This influx reinvigorated Congress’s interest in producing a gold coin dollar. Originally, the idea to issue a one-dollar gold coin came from Alexander Hamilton, the Secretary of the Treasury. For […]

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The Gold Coin That Owes Its Existence to the 3 Cent Stamp

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By Blanchard and Company, Inc ….. In 1851, a U.S. postage stamp cost three cents. America was growing fast at this time and the California Gold Rush prompted the development of new U.S. gold coins. The Mint Act of February 21, 1853 authorized a $3 coin struck in gold. This gold coin matched up with […]

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CoinWeek IQ – The Oddities of Indian Head Cents

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By Lianna Spurrier for CoinWeek …..   We all know that there are countless varieties of large cents, meticulously cataloged and collected. Early silver coinage and Morgan dollars are the same way, with many collectors focused on varieties. But did you ever stop to think about variety collecting with Indian Head cents? They’re generally seen […]

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How the Flying Eagle Cent Reinvented the Coin

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By Blanchard & Company ……   For more than 60 years, the United States minted the large cent. These coins, about the size of a half dollar, consisted of nearly pure copper. They were heavy, cumbersome and falling out of favor for commerce. By the early 1850s the time had come to issue something more […]

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Legendary 1861-S Paquet Reverse Double Eagle Rarity at Stack’s Bowers Whitman Baltimore Auction

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By Ben Orooji, Numismatist & Cataloger – Stack’s Bowers New Colorado Gold Rush on the 1861-S Paquet reverse Double Eagle …..   The Stack’s Bowers June 2018 Baltimore sale is fast approaching and among the stellar collections to be featured is the Fairmont Collection, a nearly complete set of Liberty Head double eagles. It is currently ranked […]

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Coin Profiles – The United States $20 Double Eagle Gold Coin: 1849-1933

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Too much gold? Start minting It was 1849, and the Philadelphia Mint had more Gold Rush gold than it could possibly mint. What to do? First, they minted $2.50 quarter eagles. Then half eagles. Then eagles. And still, the Mint’s coffers overflowed with unused gold (if only we all had that problem). So, Congressman James […]

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Coin Profiles – The United States $20 Liberty Double Eagle Gold Coin: 1849-1907

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Too much gold? Start minting the Liberty Double Eagle It was 1849, and the Philadelphia Mint had more Gold Rush gold than it could possibly mint. First, they minted $2.50 quarter eagles. Then half eagles. Then eagles. And still, the Mint’s coffers overflowed with unused gold (if only we all had that problem). So, Congressman […]

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