CoinWeek Streaming Newsis brought to you byNGC. For information about NGC’s current grading specials and services, as well as to look up certs, pricing information, and current populations, visitwww.ngccoin.com.
* * *
CoinWeek editor Charles Morgan takes a deep dive into the 1909-S VDB Lincoln cent, the coin that changed American numismatics forever.
Buoyed by the issue’s low mintage and coupled with the controversy surrounding the removal of the designer’s rather prominent initials on the coin’s reverse, the 1909-S VDB Lincoln cent has been the stuff of numismatic lore for more than a century.
But there’s much more to this coin than its status as a series key. Not only was the 1909-S VDB the coin that popularized collecting coins by mintmark, but it also broadened the appeal of the numismatic hobby to the general public – with the help of an enterprising inventor, whose penny boards gave Depression-era Americans holes to fill.
After it quickly became apparent that the 1909-S VDB was hard to find, the rush was on. Learn about how one Maryland dealer turned a $250 investment into a $43,750 payday. Also, find out how Brenner’s beloved design almost met an early end when President Theodore Roosevelt tapped one of America’s most accomplished artists to reinvent all of America’s coinage from soup to nuts.
* * *
The reviews are in! Charles Morgan and Hubert Walker’s 100 Greatest Modern World Coins has gotten five-star reviews on Amazon and Lou Golino and David T. Alexander both gave the book their highest recommendations.
1974 was an interesting year in the annals of numismatic history. The country was putting the finishing touches on its planned Bicentennial celebrations. The United States Mint was gearing up to produce a range of commemorative coins and medals to mark the occasion. The year would also mark the final Blue and Brown Pack silver-clad Ike dollar issues and the Mint was hard at work contemplating the future of the country’s longest-serving denomination, the cent.
From 1971 to 1974, cent production increased dramatically, exacerbating a trend that began in the mid-1960s when the Mint transitioned from silver to clad coinage. Cent demand was so high by the late 1960s, that the Mint resumed production of circulating cent coinage at the San Fransico Assay Office in 1968. By 1974, demand for cents had gotten so high, that the Mint began to use the West Point Bullion Depository to strike cents as well. By the end of the year, West Point would contribute 128,957,523 cents toward Philadelphia’s reported mintage of 4,232,140,523. The West Point cents carry no mintmark and as far as we know, cannot be differentiated from coins struck at Philadelphia.
If original unopened mint bags of 1974 cents are ever located and can be traced to the facility, we would expect these coins to bring significant premiums over their Philadelphia Mint counterparts and that the third party certification industry would identify the coins as 1974 (W).
Complicating matters was a trend of volatility in the copper market.
Copper prices rose by 43% from 1969 to 1970, before erasing most of those gains by the start of ’71. From 1971 to ’74, however, copper prices rose year to year reaching almost 86 cents a pound at the start of ’74.
To address this issue, the Mint began to investigate ways to lower the cost of cent production, settling on a 96% aluminum alloy as a possible replacement to bronze.
In total, the Mint struck approximately 1.5 million 1974-dated aluminum cents at the end of 1973. On March 27, the coins were reviewed by the Consumer Affairs subcommittee of the House of Representatives. After extended deliberation and pressure from the vending industry, Congress rejected the aluminum alloy, but did, on October 11, authorize the Secretary of the Treasury to reduce the amount of copper in the cent. By the end of 1974, copper prices receded to an acceptable level and the bronze alloy remained in use through the remainder of the decade.
In 1982, the issue would be revisited and a new alloy made of copper-plated zinc would replace the bronze cent.
How Much is the 1974 Lincoln Cent Worth?
Uncirculated Brown or Muted Red (Red Brown) Philly business strikes in high Mint State (above MS-65) can sell for anywhere from $10 to $15. Unless these coins are spectacularly toned, these coins have no foreseeable upside and should be avoided as a sufficient number of vibrant red examples survive.
In full Mint State Red, MS65 examples have a value of between $10 and $20. The value of the 1974 Lincoln cent edges up by a few dollars in MS66 Red. Our expected value of a coin in this grade is between $20 and $30. These prices are more or less equivalent to the cost of submitting the coin for grading. 1974 cents have a larger premium in MS67 Red. One excellent example was sold in March 2020 at a David Lawrence Rare Coins online auction for $90.
PCGS and NGC report a combined population of just two coins in MS68 Red (one each). With no public data available, it is a fool’s errand to try to ascertain a price for either of these pieces. But at just half a grade down, in MS67+ Red, two recent Legend Rare Coin Auctions results of $911 each suggest that a top pop 1974 Lincoln cent would easily realize a price exceeding $1,000 at auction.
As for the value of the priceless 1974 Aluminum cent patterns? This is a question we are asked quite frequently at CoinWeek. It is nearly impossible to quantify how unlikely it is that an authentic example heretofore unknown by the numismatic community would turn up, but it is possible. Of the 1.5 million examples struck, 11 are believed to be outstanding, and of that 11 only two are known.
One is currently on display at the Smithsonian Institution’sValue of Money Exhibit and is permanently impounded in the National Numismatic Collection, a donation of the United States Mint. The second example was discovered in 1973, reportedly by Albert Toven, a U.S. Capitol police officer. According to the story, the coin was dropped by a government official after a Congressional hearing on the efficacy of replacing the bronze alloy with an aluminum alloy. When Toven offered it back to the official, the official told Toven he could keep it.
This story has been published and repeated multiple times throughout the years but has all of the earmarks of a cover story. One told to “legalize” the private ownership of a pattern coin that was not officially released to the public. This example remains in private hands and was authenticated by PCGS in October 2005 and given the grade MS62. The value of this example likely exceeds six figures, but given its legally questionable status, a potential buyer would be advised to exercise caution when making an offer, or placing a bid as a protracted legal fight over the status of a privately-held 1974-D aluminum cent resulted in the coin being returned to the government.
Design
Obverse:
The obverse of the 1974 Lincoln cent was designed by Victor David Brenner and appears largely as it did when the type was first minted in 1909. The main difference on the 1974 obverse versus the 1909 version is the location of Brenners’ initials, V.D.B., which were added under Lincoln’s bust in 1918 after their removal from the reverse in late 1909. The date, 1974, appears to the right of Lincoln, and the motto IN GOD WE TRUST appears above the president. On the left of the 16th president is the word LIBERTY.
Reverse:
Frank Gasparro designed the 1959 Lincoln Memorial reverse that replaced the original 1909 Brenner wheat stalk design. Gasparro’s initials FG appear on the lower-right side of the Lincoln Memorial. Below the edifice and along the rim are the words ONE CENT, while the legend UNITED STATES OF AMERICA run along the top half of the reverse along the rim. Between the top of the Lincoln Memorial and UNITED STATES OF AMERICA inscription is the motto E PLURIBUS UNUM.
Edge:
The edge of the 1974 Lincoln cent is plain or smooth, without reeding or lettering.
1974 Lincoln Cent Designers
Lithuanian-born coin designer Victor David Brenner is best known for his iconic design for the Lincoln cent (1909-Present) (View Designer’s Profile).
To collectors of U.S. coins, 1965 was an epoch in the history of the American monetary system. A coinage shortage and the rise of silver bullion prices begot a new clad composition for the dime and quarter, reduced the half dollar’s composition to silver billon, and doomed an effort to reintroduce the silver dollar.
But things were not quite so cut and dry as that and the United States Mint’s efforts to dissuade the American public from hoarding coins unfairly blamed collectors and tarnished the coin collecting hobby.
The Date Freeze
Under the direction of Mint Director Eva Adams, the U.S. mint continued to strike coins dated 1964 through 1966. This order…
Nickels, quarters, and half dollars dated 1964 were struck in large quantities in 1964 and 1965, and dimes were struck in large quantities in 1964, 1965, and 1966. In 1965, clad quarters and dimes entered production. Circulation quality 1965 silver-clad half dollars would not…
The Market for 1965 Cents
1965 cents continue to circulate, although typical pieces found in pocket change will by in conditions Very Fine and below. The occasional Extra Fine or About Uncirculated example will reveal itself, most likely after an old accumulation of cents is emptied from a large jar of coins and deposited at a bank or at a CoinStar machine.
In numismatic channels, it is not at all difficult to acquire an uncirculated 1965 cent as large numbers of coins were saved in rolls and bags over the years. Notionally, an uncirculated 1965 cent will cost about $1 to $1.50. Beware of Special Mint Set coins masquerading as business strikes. Professional dealers know the difference, but the person listing the coin online or selling at your local store may not have paid too close
PCGS CoinFacts posts a price guide value of $8,000 for the sole 1980 cent. This appears to be a speculative price as there is no auction data to support this price. Given the approximately graded population of seven MS67+ cents in the PCGS population report, we believe that the 1980 Lincoln Cent in MS68RD guide price of $8,000 is high.
Design
Obverse:
The obverse of the 1965 Lincoln cent was designed by Victor David Brenner and appears largely as it did when the type was first minted in 1909. The main difference between the 1965 obverse and the 1909 version is the location of Brenners’ initials, V.D.B., which were added under President Abraham Lincoln’s bust in 1918 after their removal from the reverse in late 1909. The date 1965 appears to the right of Lincoln (viewer’s right), and the motto IN GOD WE TRUST appears above the president. On the left of the central motif is the word LIBERTY.
Reverse:
Frank Gasparro designed the 1959 Lincoln Memorial reverse that replaced the original 1909 Brenner wheat stalk design (the Wheat Cent). Gasparro’s initials FG appear on the lower-right side of the Lincoln Memorial. Below the edifice and along the rim are the words ONE CENT, while the legend UNITED STATES OF AMERICA run along the top half of the reverse along the rim. Between the top of the Lincoln Memorial and UNITED STATES OF AMERICA inscription is the motto E PLURIBUS UNUM.
Edge:
The edge of the 1965 Lincoln Cent is smooth or plain and without reeding, as are all other Lincoln cents.
1965 Lincoln Cent Designer(s)
Lithuanian-born coin designer Victor David Brenner is best known for his iconic design for the Lincoln cent (1909-Present) (View Designer’s Profile). Frank Gasparro was an American medalist and coin designer (View Designer’s Profile).
To collectors of U.S. coins, 1965 was an epoch in the history of the American monetary system. A coinage shortage and the rise of silver bullion prices begot a new clad composition for the dime and quarter, reduced the half dollar’s composition to silver billon, and doomed an effort to reintroduce the silver dollar.
But things were not quite so cut and dry as that and the United States Mint’s efforts to dissuade the American public from hoarding coins unfairly blamed collectors and tarnished the coin collecting hobby.
The Mint Establishes a Date Freeze
Under the direction of Mint Director Eva Adams, the U.S. Mint continued to strike coins dated 1964 through 1966. This order…
Nickels, quarters, and half dollars dated 1964 were struck in large quantities in 1964 and 1965, and dimes were struck in large quantities in 1964, 1965, a
nd 1966. In 1965, clad quarters and dimes entered production. Circulation quality 1965 silver-clad half dollars would not…
How Much Is the 1965 Lincoln Cent Worth?
1965 cents continue to circulate, although typical pieces found in pocket change will by in conditions Very Fine and below. The occasional Extra Fine or About Uncirculated example will reveal itself, most likely after an old accumulation of cents is emptied from a large jar of coins and deposited at a bank or at a CoinStar machine.
In numismatic channels, it is not at all difficult to acquire an uncirculated 1965 cent as large numbers of coins were saved in rolls and bags over the years. Notionally, an uncirculated 1965 cent will cost about $1 to $1.50. Beware of Special Mint Set coins masquerading as business strikes. Professional dealers know the difference, but the person listing the coin online or selling at your local store may not have paid too close
PCGS CoinFacts posts a price guide value of $8,000 for the sole 1980 cent. This appears to be a speculative price as there is no auction data to support this price. Given the approximately graded population of seven MS67+ cents in the PCGS population report, we believe that the 1980 Lincoln Cent in MS68RD guide price of $8,000 is high.
Design
Obverse:
The obverse of the 1965 Lincoln cent was designed by Victor David Brenner and appears largely as it did when the type was first minted in 1909. The main difference between the 1965 obverse and the 1909 version is the location of Brenners’ initials, V.D.B., which were added under President Abraham Lincoln’s bust in 1918 after their removal from the reverse in late 1909. The date 1965 appears to the right of Lincoln (viewer’s right), and the motto IN GOD WE TRUST appears above the president. On the left of the central motif is the word LIBERTY.
Reverse:
Frank Gasparro designed the 1959 Lincoln Memorial reverse that replaced the original 1909 Brenner wheat stalk design (the Wheat Cent). Gasparro’s initials FG appear on the lower-right side of the Lincoln Memorial. Below the edifice and along the rim are the words ONE CENT, while the legend UNITED STATES OF AMERICA run along the top half of the reverse along the rim. Between the top of the Lincoln Memorial and UNITED STATES OF AMERICA inscription is the motto E PLURIBUS UNUM.
Edge:
The edge of the 1965 Lincoln Cent is plain or smooth, without reeding or edge lettering.
Designers
Lithuanian-born coin designer Victor David Brenner is best known for his iconic design for the Lincoln cent (1909-Present) (View Designer’s Profile). Frank Gasparro was an American medalist and coin designer (View Designer’s Profile).
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.
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 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.
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.
A Superb Gem 1860 Indian Head Cent. Image: CoinWeek/GreatCollections.
The Indian Head cent created by United States Mint Chief Engraver James B. Longacre debuted in 1859.
The previous Flying Eagle cent had been minted for only three years (including the 1856 pattern, which is usually considered a regular issue by collectors). The apparent reason for the change from the Flying Eagle to the Indian Head cent was the weakness of the Flying Eagle design’s strike, brought about because high relief areas on both sides of the coin were opposite each other. Longacre himself, perhaps with assistance from engraver Anthony C. Paquet, started producing patterns in 1858 for a replacement cent that used both the Flying Eagle and the Indian Head motifs. Much has been written about the incongruity of depicting a woman with an Indian chief war bonnet, even when abstracted as a representation of Liberty. Longacre, however, in a letter to Mint Director James R. Snowden, expressed the belief that the headdress was a fitting representation of the “primitive” nature of America’s nationality, and that such a depiction of Liberty was not at all contrary to the sensibilities of the “intelligent American.”
The Indian Head Cent During the Civil War
The reverse laurel wreath design was modified in 1860 from a laurel wreath to an oak wreath and narrow Union shield. Reasons for the change are not known today, though some have speculated that with the Civil War looming the shield was meant to portray a sense of unity.
Millions of Indian Head cents were produced, and by the end of 1860 there was an apparent overabundance of one-cent coins, both Flying Eagle and Indian Head. Debts of multiple dollars were being paid with the cents, provoking a negative reaction from business owners (much as could be expected if the same were done by a consumer today). By 1862, however, the United States was deeply entrenched in the Civil War. With the outcome of that conflict uncertain, not only were silver and gold coins hoarded but so were copper coins. The production of cents nearly tripled from 1861 to 1862, and then almost doubled again in 1863, but still the coins were hoarded. Demand for cents was such that those who wanted them often paid a premium over face value (up to 4% in New York and Massachusetts). Privately issued notes, encased postage stamps, fractional currency, and a multitude of tokens were seen in commerce along with the U.S. cent, but the cent was preferred by the public. Not until 1864 did the situation ease – the same year that marked the transition from a copper-nickel cent composition to bronze.
Thousands of business strike copper-nickel Indian Head cents have been certified, including a few prooflike specimens. Examples are moderately priced until Premium Gem for most issues. Prices for the 1860 Pointed Bust variety are higher than other issues in Mint State and finer, much more so as near-Gem and finer.
Fewer Proof coins have been certified (naturally), including some designated Cameo and Deep Cameo. Proof coin prices are moderate, but increase at Select Uncirculated grades to expensive as Gem or finer. Prices for 1861 Proofs are moderately higher priced than other issues, significantly so in Gem and finer.
Varieties
1860 Indian Head Cent with Pointed Bust. Image: GreatCollections.
Very few varieties of the Type 2 (copper-nickel) Indian Head cent are known, but those that are known are primarily date- and die-doubling examples. The best known variety is the 1860 Pointed Bust, so-called because the tip of the bust is more pointed than the rounded end typically seen.
In-Depth Copper-Nickel Indian Head Cent Date Analysis by CoinWeek IQ
Liberty’s face on the cent is similar to Longacre’s 1854 Three Dollar Gold piece and also bears resemblance to his 1849 gold dollar and $20 double eagle Liberty portraits. Wearing a beaded necklace, Liberty faces left. On her head is a nine-feathered Indian war bonnet with a band displaying LIBERTY. Locks of hair drape down the back, and one end of the diamond-patterned head band curls slightly to the front, with the other end somewhat hidden between the hair and the bottom feather. UNITED STATES follows along a dentilled border to the left, OF AMERICA along the right. The date is at the bottom.
The reverse has a concentric two-part wreath inside a denticled rim, tied together at the bottom by a ribbon that also binds three arrows. The wreath is mostly composed of oak leaves with acorns, though another type of leaf is shown at the bottom on the left side. The top ends of the wreath separate to allow for the placement of a small Union shield, and ONE CENT is prominently displayed in the center of the flan. All copper-nickel Indian Head cents were produced in Philadelphia so no mintmark is displayed.
The edge is plain or smooth, without reeding or edge lettering.
Coin Specifications
Indian Head Cent
Years Of Issue:
1860-64
Mintage (Circulation):
High – 49,840,000 (1863); Low – 13,740,000 (1864 copper-nickel composition; additional 1864 business strike coins minted in bronze)
Mintage (Proof):
High – 1,000 (1860 and 1861, estimated); Low – 370 (1864 copper-nickel composition, estimated; additional 1864 Proofs minted in bronze)
Alloy:
88% copper, 12% nickel
Weight:
4.67 g
Diameter:
19.00 mm
Edge:
Plain
OBV Designer
James B. Longacre
REV Designer
James B. Longacre
* * *
References
Bowers, Q. David. The Experts Guide to Collecting & Investing in Rare Coins. Whitman Publishing.
–. A Guide Book of United States Type Coins. Whitman Publishing.
Breen, Walter. Walter Breen’s Encyclopedia of U.S. Coins. Doubleday.
Feigenbaum, David Lawrence and John Feigenbaum. The Complete Guide to Certified Barber Coinage. DLRC Press.
Guth, Ron and Jeff Garrett. United States Coinage: A Study by Type. Whitman Publishing.
Lange, David W. The Complete Guide to Lincoln Cents. Zyrus Press.
–. Coin Collecting Boards of the 1930s and 1940s. Pennyboard Press.
Snow, Richard. A Guide Book of Flying Eagle and Indian Head Cents. Whitman Publishing.
Taxay, Don. The U.S. Mint and Coinage. Arco Publishing.
Yeoman, R.S and Kenneth Bressett (editor). The Official Red Book: A Guide Book of United States Coins. Whitman Publishing.
A 1909-S Indian Head Cent in Superb Gem Uncirculated Condition. Image: Stack’s Bowers / Adobe Stock.
Why Was the Indian Head Cent Made in Bronze?
The Indian Head Cent saw its composition change from copper-nickel to bronze in 1864 due to the Mint’s efforts to produce a cheaper coin and get the coin to circulate in the northeastern states.
The small copper-nickel Indian Head “white” cent, so-called because of its lighter color in contrast 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 pieces, the cent had also disappeared from circulation, joining the silver and gold coins already in hiding. In the absence of this federal coinage, entrepreneurs issued cent-sized bronze tokens, which were redeemable from their respective businesses. In 1864, the year of President Abraham Lincoln’s reelection and Union victories at Cold Harbor, Atlanta, and the Shenandoah Valley that changed the momentum of the war in favor of the North, the United States Mint revised the Indian Head cent, copying the look and feel of the popular and readily accepted private tokens.
The metal composition of the Indian Head Cent changed from copper-nickel to bronze in 1864. Image: Stack’s Bowers / CoinWeek.
This proved effective, as the public accepted the new cent, allowing the denomination to circulate much more freely.
The design of the 1864 Indian Head cent was basically the same as previous issues in the series, but the composition was changed from copper-nickel to a bronze alloy of copper, tin, and zinc. Though the copper content was seven per cent higher, the cent no longer contained expensive nickel, which had likely contributed to the hoarding of the early 1860s. Besides being less expensive to make, the bronze cent sans nickel was about a gram-and-a-half lighter, easier to strike, and darker in color due to the higher concentration of copper. Cents with both copper-nickel and bronze were produced in 1864, but nearly three times more of the new bronze cents were made. Only two issues of the series, the 1877 and the 1909-S, did production drop below one million coins, and in 1907 over 100 million pieces were produced.
The Bronze Indian Head Cent in the Modern Market
Thousands of business strike bronze Indian Head cents have been certified, usually with Red (RD), Red-Brown (RB), and Brown (BN) color designations, though very few are classified as prooflike. Prices are moderate for most dates up to near-Gem, but even Premium Gem and finer coins are relatively affordable for many dates. Most expensive are the 1873 Double LIBERTY, the 1877 (long considered a key date), and the 1888/7 overdate. The 1864 L On Ribbon, the 1869, the 1872, and the low-mintage 1908-S pieces are slightly more expensive than other issues.
For Proof coins, prices are modest for lower-grade issues up to near-Gem grades, but as with circulation strikes, for some dates even Premium Gem and finer coins are relatively affordable. The “L On Ribbon” 1864 pieces are expensive in all grades, and very expensive as Gem or finer. A few 1860s issues are more expensive than other dates, and the key date 1877 Proof issue is considerably more expensive than all but the L On Ribbon examples in all grades. Cameo Proof coins have a modest price premium at lower grades that increases at higher grades.
For both circulation and Proof coins, Red coins are more expensive than either Red-Brown or Brown, and Red-Brown coins more expensive than Brown examples.
In-Depth Bronze Indian Head Cent Date Analysis by CoinWeek IQ
Lady Liberty’s face on the Indian Head cent is similar to the 1854 three dollar gold piece designed by U.S. Mint Chief Engraver James Barton Longacre, and also bears resemblance to both his 1849 gold dollar and 1849 double eagle Liberty portraits. Wearing a beaded necklace, Liberty faces left. On her head is a nine-feathered Indian war bonnet with a band displaying LIBERTY. Locks of hair drape down the back and one end of the diamond-patterned headband curls slightly to the front, with the other end somewhat hidden between the hair and the bottom feather. Early 1864 bronze cents had the rounded tip of the bust as on the copper-nickel issues, but later coins for 1864 and all subsequent years have a pointed bust tip and a small L (for Longacre, sometimes hard to see because of wear) in the lower part of the smaller ribbon to the back. The legend UNITED STATES follows along a denticled border to the left, and the legend OF AMERICA follows along the right. The date is at the bottom.
The reverse has a concentric two-part wreath inside a denticled rim, tied together at the bottom by a ribbon that also binds three arrows. The wreath is mostly composed of oak leaves with acorns, though another type of leaf is shown at the bottom on the left side. The top ends of the wreath separate to allow for the placement of a small Union shield, and the denomination ONE CENT is prominently displayed in the center of the flan. Bronze Indian Head cents, both circulation and Proof issues, were produced every year in Philadelphia and at San Francisco in 1908 and 1909; the S mintmark is located on the reverse, below the tie of the ribbon, and slightly off-center to the right.
The edge of the coin is plain or smooth, without reeding or edge lettering.
Varieties
Many Indian Head bronze cent varieties are known, including several date doublings or repunchings. Other important varieties include the 1864 No L On Ribbon; the 1865 Plain and Fancy 5; the 1873 Closed and Open 3, referring to the amount of space between the top and bottom extensions of the digit (the Closed 3 appearing at first glance to be an 8); the 1873 Doubled LIBERTY; the 1886 Type 1 and Type 2, distinguished by the placement of the lowest feather on the Indian’s headdress relative to letters C and A in AMERICA; and other variations of device style and placement.
Coin Specifications
Indian Head Cent
Years Of Issue:
1864-1909
Mintage (Circulation):
High – 108,137,143 (1907); Low – 309,000 (1909-S)
Mintage (Proof):
High – 6,609 (1883); Low – About 20 (1864 With L – approx. 150 Proofs were minted without the “L”; the combined 1864 mintage is the lowest for the type)
Alloy:
95% copper, 5% tin and zinc
Weight:
3.11 g
Diameter:
19.00 mm
Edge:
Plain
OBV Designer
James Barton Longacre
REV Designer
James Barton Longacre
* * *
References
Bowers, Q. David. The Experts Guide to Collecting & Investing in Rare Coins. Whitman Publishing.
–. A Guide Book of United States Type 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.
Taxay, Don. The U.S. Mint and Coinage. Arco Publishing.
Yeoman, R.S and Kenneth Bressett (editor). The Official Red Book: A Guide Book of United States Coins. Whitman Publishing.
What Is a 1943 Steel Cent and Why Were They Made? The 1943 Lincoln Steel Cent was the result of the United States Mint’s efforts to conserve strategically important metals during World War II by replacing the copper used in cent production with zinc-plated steel. The appearance of these steel cents is markedly different from […]
What Is a 1943 Steel Cent and Why Were They Made? The 1943 Lincoln Steel Cent was the result of the United States Mint’s efforts to conserve strategically important metals during World War II by replacing the copper used in cent production with zinc-plated steel. The appearance of these steel cents is markedly different from […]
What Is a 1943 Steel Cent and Why Were They Made? The 1943 Lincoln Steel Cent was the result of the United States Mint’s efforts to conserve strategically important metals during World War II by replacing the copper used in cent production with zinc-plated steel. The appearance of these steel cents is markedly different from […]
The Lincoln Wheat Cent – A Coin Collecting Classic The Lincoln Wheat cent has been a favorite of collectors for many years. Part of the appeal is the fact that it is first circulating U.S. coin to feature the likeness of a real person – that person being the 16th President of the United States […]
What is the Lincoln Memorial Cent? The Lincoln Memorial cent was first issued in 1959. It was the second reverse design used in the Lincoln cent series, which was introduced originally in 1909 to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the birth of 16th president Abraham Lincoln. The 150th anniversary of that event occasioned another design […]
Why were 10,000,000 Lincoln Cents Distributed in Boxes of Cheerios? As part of an innovative major PR campaign, in 2000, the United States Mint teamed up with processed food manufacturer General Mills. In addition to the millions of dollars spent on TV ads and other activities, the Mint delivered 10 million Lincoln cents and 5,500 […]
By Charles Morgan and Hubert Walker for CoinWeek ….. Never say never. 1943 Copper Pennies (officially, 1943 copper cents) have been found in cafeterias, gum ball machines, and circulating in change. One was even held privately by a Mint Chief Engraver. Another is said to have been spirited out by a Denver Mint […]
By Charles Morgan and Hubert Walker for CoinWeek ….. 1943 Copper Pennies (officially, 1943 copper cents) have been found in cafeterias, gum ball machines, and circulating in change. One was even held privately by a Mint Chief Engraver. Another is said to have been spirited out by a Denver Mint employee. Regardless of how they […]
By CoinWeek ….. Lincoln cents, the most popularly collected of all coins produced by the United States, will mark their 115th year of production in 2024. Once a rite of passage for generations of coin collectors, building a complete set of the series has become increasingly difficult in recent years. From million-dollar rarities to the […]
By CoinWeek …. Among the many rare coins issued in the 20th century by the United States Mint, the 1909-S V.D.B. Lincoln cent stands out as the one of the greatest. Not because it is the rarest, but because no other coin has captivated as wide a swath of American pocket change collectors. The release […]
2003 Lincoln Cent Background The 2003 Lincoln cent was issued against the backdrop of many calling for the denomination’s elimination and represented one of the better-struck issues bearing the Lincoln Memorial reverse. Cents had been struck on copper-plated zinc planchets since 1982, earning the coins the moniker “Zincoln”. Their composition, adopted to cut production costs, […]
Description The 1969-S Lincoln Memorial cent is collected by many people for many reasons. Among Lincoln cent enthusiasts, the coin is, at the very least, coveted for its merits as a business-strike and Proof issue produced by the San Francisco Mint and serves as a necessary addition to a date-and-mintmark series collection. For die variety […]
Sunday Auction 1269 from David Lawrence Rare Coins (DLRC) is live and features over 600 total lots. Included in the variety of fantastic PCGS-, NGC-, and CAC-approved items in this week’s sale is a popular 1914-D 1c PCGS MS64 RD; a key date rarity 1916-D 10c PCGS MS65 FB; a lovely branch mint 1840-D $2 […]
* * * You are looking at a 1914-D Lincoln cent. Can you guess the grade? But first. Last week, we took a look at an 1856 gold dollar with an “upright 5” from the Deadwood Collection. If you guessed MS62, you are correct. Today, let’s look at the 1914-D. Just over one million […]
The superb quality of the 1916 Lincoln cent is well known amongst enthusiasts. New hubs had been prepared for the 1916 issue, and many of the resulting coins resemble Proof strikes and have squared rims. The current example being offered by GreatCollections.com, encapsulated in a Secure Shield holder, is the sole MS-68 Red (RD) so […]
* * * We didn’t know what to expect when we purchased an original roll of 1958-D Lincoln cents for $15 from a local coin shop. 1958 marked the final year of production for the Wheat Reverse Lincoln cent–or just plain Wheat cent–one of the most collected coin types in the United States. The […]
Lincoln Cent Description Lincoln cents were in short supply as the United States entered its second year of war in Europe. Increased wartime economic activity drove up demand for circulating coinage, resulting in larger mintages. The more than 288 million cents produced at the Philadelphia Mint in 1918–the largest mintage in the series up to […]
By Shawn Tew ….. A case study undertaken both by myself, Shawn Tew (Michigan), and fellow numismatic researcher Chris Welch (Oregon) has resulted in the conclusion that there were two separate galvanos and that four different master hubs were created for the 1909 transitional year between the end of the Indian Head cent and the […]
By Jack D. Young, Early American Coppers (EAC) …… Again, from my year-end review and organization of my archive folders and images comes another installment in this series! And as always, I will start with the certified “Dark Corner” example: a 1909-S VDB, one of the most cherished of Lincoln cents: This example first reared […]
By Bullion Shark LLC …… Though they aren’t worth much on their faces, pennies are some of the most fun coins to chase as a collector. That said, there’s a big difference between common pennies that might not be worth your time and those with historical and collectible value. Wheat cents (or wheat pennies as […]
When the production of Proof coins resumed after an eight-year hiatus at the Philadelphia Mint ended in 1950, mintages initially remained quite limited. But in 1957, the United States Mint issued over one million Proof Sets for the first time in its history. Continuing this trend, the 1961 issuance crept above three million for the […]
When the production of Proof coins resumed after an eight-year hiatus at the Philadelphia Mint ended in 1950, mintages initially remained quite limited. But in 1957, the United States Mint issued over one million Proof Sets for the first time in its history. Continuing this trend, the 1961 issuance crept above three million for the […]
The Philadelphia Mint struck over 5.5 billion Lincoln cents in 1978, consuming 765,914.1 pounds or 157,583.8 metric tonnes of copper. It should be noted, however, that the West Point facility did strike roughly 1.5 billion of these coins and there is no way to distinguish between the two mintages. Combined, this represented only 56.5 of […]
Biding is now live on Greatcollections.com for a handsome example of the famous 1943 Copper Penny error, graded as AU 50 BN by PCGS and earning a blue CAC sticker. Interested collectors should note this is a rare opportunity to acquire such a numismatically important coin. Bidding ends Sunday, November 13, 2022, at 4:12:20 PM […]
The numbers just don’t add up on this fake coin By Numismatic Guaranty Company (NGC) …… The Indian Head Cent series of 1859-1909 remains one of the most popular with collectors of US coins. It covers a period from just before the Civil War to just before World War I. There are no stoppers […]
Sunday Auction #1242 from David Lawrence Rare Coins (DLRC) is now live and features over 600 total lots – including more than 50 No Reserve lots and over 20 Vault Values. Included in the variety of fantastic PCGS-, NGC-, and CAC-approved items in this week’s sale is a famous key date 1913-S 25c PCGS/CAC VF20; […]
1925 represented a 31% drop in output from the previous year’s total production at the Philadelphia Mint. Despite producing a fraction of the previous year’s coinage, demand for the cent remained quite high. While continuing to strike coins, the Philadelphia Mint installed two new automatic weighing machines in 1925 to help increase production speed. As […]
Counterfeit 1922 No D Lincoln cent By Max Spiegel – Numismatic Guaranty Corporation …… The 1922 No D Lincoln cent has long been popular with counterfeiters but rarely do they go to the trouble of making dies. As a well-known rarity, the 1922 No D Lincoln cent has been the target of counterfeiters […]
By Steven Cochran for Gainesville Coins …… In 2009, the United States Mint marked the 200th anniversary of Abraham Lincoln’s birth with a four-coin series of circulating commemorative cents. Known as the “Lincoln Bicentennial” series, the program consisted of four different reverse designs marking major milestones in Lincoln’s life. The 2009 Lincoln Bicentennial Designs The […]
By Bullion Shark LLC …… Modern Proof coins that were struck at the San Francisco Mint, as most Proof coinage has been since 1968, normally bear an “S” mint mark. A small number of these coins have surfaced over the years that lack the mint mark, and they are among the greatest rarities of modern […]
Despite the Bicentennial Coin Program that resulted in the redesigning of half the United States circulating denominations, the Lincoln cent remained unchanged. While the Philadelphia Mint reported an official mintage of 4,674,292,426 Lincoln cents for 1976, this is slightly deceiving. In fact, as stated in the Annual Report of the Director of the Mint for […]
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 […]
“Duke of Carson City Coins” among most important in all of U.S. numismatics A passion can be sparked by any number of factors. In the case of renowned U.S. coins collector Tom Bender, a call to his brothers renewed his interest in a hobby handed down from his father. “I started collecting coins as a […]
As part of their sale of the Red Copper Collection, GreatCollections is offering collectors the opportunity to bid on an outstanding top population 1951 Deep Cameo Proof Lincoln Cent graded as PR67 DCAM by PCGS. As the highest grade for the type, this coin is a true rarity. As so much more than a placeholder, […]
GreatCollections is offering collectors an opportunity to bid on a beautiful 1957 Proof Lincoln cent graded as PR67 RD DCAM by PCGS. With only two examples of a higher grade, this rarity would make a great addition to any collection of Proof Lincoln cents. Collectors should be aware that bidding on this high-grade Proof coin […]
By Blanchard & Company …… How do you run a successful business? You make sure that costs don’t exceed revenues. However, in a 2014 biennial report to Congress, the United States Mint explained that it takes 8.04 cents to make a nickel and 1.66 cents to make a penny. This imbalance between manufacturing costs and face […]
For the past 20 years, the “Red Copper Collection” has won almost all of the top Registry Set awards for Lincoln Cents. The famed collection was carefully put together one coin at a time over the past 50 years by an advanced East Coast collector. But now other collectors have the opportunity to own part […]
By Joshua McMorrow-Hernandez for PCGS …… Lincoln cent enthusiasts can reel off the “Big Four” key dates for their favorite series with little hesitation: 1909-S, 1909-S VDB, 1914-D, and 1931-S. That rare quartet omits the next three big dates on many Lincoln lovers’ minds, which include the 1922 No D Strong Reverse, the 1943 Bronze, […]
At the height of the Great Depression and resulting from the dramatic decline in the public’s demand for coins, the Denver Mint’s operations nearly ground to a halt. This resulted in an 88.8% drop in mintage figures for the Lincoln Cent, from over 40 million pieces to almost 4.5 million coins. Adding to this initial […]
July 14-17 to mark first auction appearance for AU50 rarity An extremely rare 1943 Lincoln cent that was struck on a bronze planchet, which has been called the most famous and sought-after error coin of all time, will be offered at auction for the first time ever when it crosses the block in Heritage […]
As part of their current auction of the Edgemont Collection of Lincoln cents, GreatCollections is offering collectors the exciting opportunity to win a 1914-S Lincoln cent graded as MS 65 RD by PCGS with a CAC certification. Nearly 25 years ago this high-grade, semi-key date piece was placed in a 3.1 gen OGH holder. Bidding […]
By Joshua McMorrow-Hernandez for Gainesville Coins …… Most steel pennies are worth between 20 cents and 20 dollars. Prices for 1943 penny error coins, like the 1943-D doubled mintmark variety, can reach several hundred dollars. There are few vintage coins as widely collected as the 1943 steel Lincoln penny. This applies within and even beyond […]
Stack’s Bowers Galleries is excited to present their June 2022 Showcase Auction of United States Coins and Numismatic Americana, the official Auction for the Whitman Coin & Collectibles Summer 2022 Expo. This sale marks the firm’s first return to the Summer Whitman Expo since 2019 and tremendous excitement is anticipated from both collectors and dealers. […]
By Joshua McMorrow-Hernandez for PCGS …… Modern Proof coins have thrown many intriguing curveballs toward collectors over the years, with some of the most confusing examples spinning out of the 1981 Proof Set issued by the United States Mint. The 1981 Proof Set marked the end of more than just the Susan B. Anthony dollar, […]
Hindsight is 20/20, and despite the Great Depression looming right around the corner, it was business as usual at the United States Mint in 1929. In fact, that year the Philadelphia facility struck 185,262,000 cents coins alone, and when combined with the other mint facilities, the mintage topped 277 million pieces. This was the largest […]
By Tom DeLorey …… About 45 years ago, collector Del Romines came into my office at Coin World’s “Collectors Clearinghouse” with two well-worn 1943-P nickels that he thought were 1943/2-P overdates. I thought that he might be right, so I took pictures of his coins, published them, and asked if anybody had a higher-grade specimen […]
Heritage Auctions is proud to present, in a current Showcase sale, the Boulder City Collection. Built around an outstanding set of Flying Eagle and Indian Cents, including both circulation strikes and proofs as well as a number of collectible varieties, this collection also boasts a wide variety of other outstanding coinage, highlighted by a 1895 […]
By Q. David Bowers – Co-Founder, Stack’s Bowers ….. In 1859, a new design was adopted for the cent, incorporating on the obverse Miss Liberty dressed in an Indian war bonnet, with UNITED STATES OF AMERICA surrounding, and the date below. The design was by Chief Engraver James B. Longacre. The reverse displayed a laurel […]
By Bullion Shark LLC …… Today, the United States Mint is the largest producer of coins in the world, striking billions of circulating coins, millions of bullion coins in four metals, and various commemorative coins and special issues. There are even circulation-quality coins not made for circulation and sold to collectors, like the American Innovation […]
By Mike Byers for Mint Error News …… 1942-S Wartime Lincoln Cent Struck on a Bronze Planchet NGC MS 62 Brown Unique Discovery Coin This is a fascinating 1942-S Lincoln cent that was struck on a 2.5-gram bronze planchet with a composition of 95% copper, 4% zinc, and 1% tin. After examining this unique […]
Sunday Auction #1215 from David Lawrence Rare Coins (DLRC) is now live and features over 600 total lots – including more than 20 Vault Values, over 250 No Reserve Lots, and nearly 55 Washington Quarters recently deaccessioned from the D.L. Hansen Collection. Included in the variety of fantastic PCGS-, NGC-, and CAC-approved items in this […]
Collectors should note that a near-perfect Deep Cameo Proof 1970-S Lincoln cent, certified PR-69 RD by PCGS with a US bunting flag label, is currently being auctioned by GreatCollections. At the time of publication, the highest of 71 bids stands at $3,303.00 USD. This lot has been viewed 406 times, and 32 GC members are […]
1908-S Counterfeit Indian Head Cent By Max Spiegel – Numismatic Guaranty Company (NGC) …… The grading room was recently presented with a 1908-S Indian Head cent for certification. The 1908-S cent had the third-lowest mintage in the Indian Head cent series, with 1,115,000 pieces struck. The first of only two San Francisco Mint Indian […]
Demand for domestic coinage continued to grow in 1936 and the United States Mint responded by adding shifts and ramping up production. In Philadelphia, cent production was higher than it had been at any time since 1920. In total, 309,632,000 pieces were struck, all from blanks that were manufactured in-house. This production level largely satisfied […]
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 […]
1967 marked the beginning of a return to normalcy for the United States Mint. The Coinage Act of 1965 radically recalibrated American coinage, dropping the 90% silver standard in favor of base metal dimes and quarters and a 40% silver-clad alloy for halves. As legislators and bureaucrats sought to remedy the ongoing national coin shortage, […]
While still a fledgling design, the Philadelphia Mint struck nearly 50% more 1910 Lincoln cents than in 1909 or 1910. In fact, it was the largest single issuance of Lincoln cents by the Philadelphia Mint until 1917. With a mintage of 146,801,218 pieces, this coin is easily obtainable in both general circulated and Mint State […]
GreatCollections.com is offering a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for collectors to acquire one of the most famous US error coins. Bidding on the famous 1943 Lincoln “Gumball” Copper cent, graded as AU50 BN by PCGS, ends on Sunday, January 30. The current highest bid (as of the time of publication of this article) is $192,500 USD […]
GreatCollections.com is offering a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for collectors to acquire one of the most famous US error coins. Bidding on the famous 1943 Lincoln “Gumball” Copper cent, graded as AU50 BN by PCGS, ends on Sunday, January 30. The current highest bid (as of the time of publication of this article) is $192,500 USD […]
By Victor Bozarth for PCGS …… Some coin deals are more memorable than others. Most deals are “one and done”, and you go on to the next deal. But when you buy a collection or hoard, the timeline might involve a decade. Come on Vic, really? What kind of coin deal is still unresolved […]
By Joshua McMorrow-Hernandez for PCGS …… One of the most enduring Indian Cent varieties is the 1894/1894 Doubled Date, a piece that excites not only series enthusiasts but also even the more casual collector. It’s earned a place of prominence among a few other selected Indian Cent varieties, including 1867/67 and 1869/69 doubled dies as […]
By Joshua McMorrow-Hernandez for PCGS …… One of the most enduring Indian Cent varieties is the 1894/1894 Doubled Date, a piece that excites not only series enthusiasts but also even the more casual collector. It’s earned a place of prominence among a few other selected Indian Cent varieties, including 1867/67 and 1869/69 doubled dies as […]
By CoinWeek …. For any first-year-of-issue Lincoln cent from the San Francisco Mint, it is hard to escape the shadow of the V.D.B. type on which the coin’s designer, Victor David Brenner, placed his initials at the bottom of the reverse. And coin collectors have until Sunday, January 2, to take advantage of the offering […]
By CoinWeek ….. A brilliantly “target toned” 1953-S Lincoln cent certified MS-65 BN by NGC with a green CAC sticker is being auctioned by GreatCollections. At the time of publication, the high bid stands at $1,150.88 USD, underscoring the premiums some collectors are willing to pay for remarkable toning. Struck towards the end of circulating […]
By Joshua McMorrow-Hernandez for PCGS …… You may have noticed it’s getting harder to find bronze Lincoln Memorial cents in circulation these days. In the last few years, they’ve been getting notably scarcer in circulation. A lot of folks want to know why – especially given that Lincoln cents don’t see as many transactions in […]
Description The 1909-S Indian Head cent is a semi-key coin that also represents one of the last issues of the iconic one-cent coin series that began in 1859 and ended in 1909. After being struck exclusively at the Philadelphia Mint since its inception, Indian Head cents were finally issued by a branch mint beginning in […]
By Peter van Alfen for American Numismatic Society (ANS) …… After a hiatus of a dozen years, this last Friday and Saturday (17–18 September) saw the resumption of the Coinage of the Americas Conference (COAC) series at the American Numismatic Society (ANS). Since the mid-1980s, COACs have been one of the leading venues for the […]
Description The Lincoln cent is the United States’ longest-serving coin. Its 1909 debut marked the centennial of the birth of Abraham Lincoln, and its elegant sculptural design served as the vanguard of a new wave of American coin art. And while the golden era of American coin design is most associated with medallic artist and […]
Description Lincoln cents were in short supply as the United States entered its second year of war in Europe. Increased wartime economic activity drove up demand for circulating coinage, resulting in larger mintages. The more than 288 million cents produced at the Philadelphia Mint in 1918–the largest mintage in the series up to that point–were […]
Counterfeit 1875 Indian Head Cent Indian Head Cent By Max Spiegel – Numismatic Guaranty Corporation (NGC) …… Many Chinese counterfeits are made from dies that are not directly copied from genuine examples, therefore many of the details are incorrect. Cents have long been the target of counterfeiters because of the numerous key dates and […]
Numismatic Guaranty Corporation (NGC) has certified one of the finest examples of the famed 1943 Bronze Cent, an elusive mint error highly prized by coin collectors. The coin was submitted by Dave & Adam’s Card World, a powerhouse in the world of collectible sports cards. In order to save copper for the war effort […]
By Mike Byers for Mint Error News …… Although there are U.S. coins that are two-headed (struck by two obverse dies), two-tailed (struck by two reverse dies) and muled (struck by two different denominations), this is a unique mated two-headed Lincoln cent pair struck by two U.S. cent obverse dies. The United States Mint in […]
By CoinWeek …. On Sunday, April 18, bidding ends at GreatCollections.com for this S Over Horizontal S 1909-S Lincoln Cent, graded MS-67 RD by PCGS and approved by CAC as strong for the grade. It is also housed in a gold shield holder. When it comes to the 1909-S penny, it is hard to escape […]
By Chris Bulfinch for CoinWeek ….. Lincoln Wheat cents turn up in pocket change, the effects of loved ones, and in rolls of cents tucked away in drawers. Struck by the unfamiliar reverse design and age, many who come across these coins start Googling, only to find a deluge of jargon-laden auction listings, price estimates, […]
By Chris Bulfinch for CoinWeek ….. Lincoln Wheat cents turn up in pocket change, the effects of loved ones, and in rolls of cents tucked away in drawers. Struck by the unfamiliar reverse design and age, many who come across these coins start Googling, only to find a deluge of jargon-laden auction listings, price […]
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. […]
By CoinWeek …. In this episode of CoinWeek Streaming News, CoinWeek Editor Charles Morgan cracks open a bag of over 150 mixed date small cents he’d just bought on eBay. Usually, this is a bad idea; can you trust that an “unsearched” bag you’re purchasing over the internet is really unsearched? And what dealer (even […]
By CoinWeek …. On Sunday, March 21, bidding ends on GreatCollections.com for this toned 1943-S Steel Lincoln Cent, graded MS-66 by PCGS and approved by CAC. Among Lincoln Wheat cents, the steel cents of 1943 are some of the most well-known pennies to even the general public. At the height of World War II, the […]
Spark erosion counterfeit coins aren’t made very frequently anymore because they are easy to spot once you learn how. Spark-Erosion Counterfeit 1858 Flying Eagle Cent By Numismatic Guaranty Corporation (NGC) …… This 1858 Small Letters Flying Eagle Cent was recently submitted to NGC for certification. It was immediately recognized as an older style of spark […]
By Joshua McMorrow-Hernandez for PCGS …… There are few coin series that originated in the 19th century and are as widely collected by date and mintmark as the Indian Cent. Designed by James B. Longacre, Chief Engraver of the United States Mint, and in production from 1859 through 1909, the Indian Cent saw the vast […]
By James McCartney – Senior Numismatist, Stack’s Bowers …… The Proof 1897 Indian cent is an underrated rarity among the late dates from this series. From a mintage of 1,938 pieces, 731 were intended for sale in conjunction with the year’s silver Proof sets, while the remaining 1,207 examples went into minor coin Proof […]
1980 was an inflection point in the history of the cent. The juxtapenultimate date struck from the majority-copper alloy in use since the early 1960s, 1980 Lincoln cents were struck and issued against a backdrop of uncertainty about the denomination, as successive administrations tested new compositions and pondered its elimination. The coins themselves are not […]
Background The 2003 Lincoln cent was issued against the backdrop of many calling for the denomination’s elimination and represented one of the better-struck issues bearing the Lincoln Memorial reverse. Cents had been struck on copper-plated zinc planchets since 1982, earning the coins the moniker “Zincoln”. Their composition, adopted to cut production costs, provided only a […]
Description In the lead-up to the passage of the Coinage Act of 1965, speculators and coin collectors drew the ire of the Mint, the Treasury, and many members of Congress who thought that the bustling coin hobby was to blame for the national coin shortage. Anybody who has studied a Red Book will understand that […]
Description As David Lange writes in his excellent CoinWeek article, 1960 was a pivotal year for coin collecting in America. Rare coins, the traditional backbone of the hobby, continued to thrive, with many historic collections being built – some publicly, some privately. But the real buzz encircling the coin hobby centered on modern U.S. Mint […]
By Bullion Shark LLC …… While each series of United States cent (or penny) has its own key coins based on mintages and the number of surviving coins, the most valuable pennies ever sold is a different group of coins that takes into account other factors like market conditions, demand, and the coin’s role in […]
By Bullion Shark LLC …… As collectors of U.S. coins are well aware, in 1943 during World War II, the United States Mint struck zinc-coated steel pennies to help conserve copper and tin needed for armaments for American troops fighting in Europe and Japan. Authorized by a 1942 law that temporarily changed the composition of […]
Over the past 50 years, an individual from San Francisco accumulated thousands of Lincoln cents from change, friends, and by searching rolls. He never found anything of note, and finally the day came to sell the collection. He obtained several quotes from local coin shops and ended up selling the whole collection for a few […]
Description 1974 was an interesting year in the annals of numismatic history. The country was putting the finishing touches on its planned Bicentennial celebrations. The United States Mint was gearing up to produce a range of commemorative coins and medals to mark the occasion. The year would also mark the final Blue and Brown Pack […]
By Dr. Richard S. Appel – UniqueRareCoins.com …… The 1963-64 period witnessed a price explosion for uncirculated rolls of U.S. coins that has yet to be duplicated. Numerous rolls of cents through half dollars rose in price from near face value in the mid-1950s to many multiples of those levels just a few years later. […]
By James McCartney – Senior Numismatist, Stack’s Bowers …… The Bronze 1943 Lincoln cent is perhaps the most famous Mint Error to ever emerge from the United States Mint. Just about 20 distinct examples are known from the Philadelphia Mint and they are highly prized at all grade levels. When the U.S. mints switched […]
CoinWeek Streaming News is brought to you by NGC. For information about NGC’s current grading specials and services, as well as to look up certs, pricing information, and current populations, visit www.ngccoin.com. * * * CoinWeek editor Charles Morgan takes a deep dive into the 1909-S VDB Lincoln cent, the coin that changed American numismatics forever. Buoyed […]
By Bullion Shark LLC …… The year 1943 found the United States getting more deeply involved in World War II with overseas deployments. At home, there was the completion of the Pentagon building in Virginia, and air raid practices at night, and rationing of food and gasoline. Driven largely by the ramp-up in industrial and […]
By Bullion Shark LLC …… The Lincoln cent has been issued continuously since 1909, longer than any other coin currently produced by the United States. It has seen three different reverse subtypes during that period while retaining the same obverse (apart from slight modifications) and it is a coin that has long appealed to both […]
By James McCartney – Senior Numismatist, Stack’s Bowers …… As a well-produced issue from the first decade of the series, the 1916 Lincoln cent is among the most popular representatives for both type collectors and small cent specialists. With a mintage of 131.8 million pieces, the 1916 cent represents a transition between the lower […]
By CoinWeek …. On Sunday, August 23, bidding ends on GreatCollections.com for this 1944-D/S Lincoln cent, graded MS-67 RD by PCGS and approved by CAC. Almost 431 million Lincoln cents were struck in 1944 at the Denver Mint, and out of that number thousands of repunched, overstruck (D/S) mint marks are known to have made […]
By Blanchard and Company, Inc …… The COVID-19 pandemic has created a nationwide coin shortage. Shoppers are relying on debit and credit cards to avoid touching cash, which can carry germs, but that’s left parts of the nation short on spare change. Here’s what the Federal Reserve recently said on that topic: Business and bank […]
By Stack’s Bowers …… None Finer at Either PCGS or CAC 1913 Lincoln Cent. Proof-67+ RB (PCGS). CAC. This is a magnificent survivor from the coveted Matte Proof series of the early 20th century, struck from 1909 through 1916. Each side of this Superb Gem glows with a blend of golden and tangerine hues, […]
1914-d Lincoln Cent By CoinWeek …. On Sunday, July 19, bidding ends on GreatCollections.com for this 1914-D Lincoln cent, graded MS-65+ RD by PCGS. Having one of the lowest mintages of the “Wheat Penny” era (the third lowest, to be precise, behind only the 1931-S and the iconic 1909-S VDB), the 1914-D would naturally be […]
By Stack’s Bowers …… Top Pop 1913-S Lincoln Cent – Finest RB Seen at PCGS or CAC MS-66 RB (PCGS). CAC. Attractive and impressively preserved, this Gem is overwhelmingly dominated by the original Mint Red color. The surfaces are toned in rich apricot and pinkish hues, with just a touch of sapphire-blue iridescence across […]
Description The Lincoln cent is the United States’ longest-serving coin. Its 1909 debut marked the centennial of the birth of Abraham Lincoln, and its elegant sculptural design served as the vanguard of a new wave of American coin art. But while the golden age of American coin design is most associated with medallic artist and sculptor Augustus Saint-Gaudens, it is […]
By Joshua McMorrow-Hernandez for PCGS …… The United States one-cent coin was, along with the half cent, among the first denominations ever coined by the United States Mint for mass distribution and circulation in 1793. The nation’s early one-cent coins are much larger in diameter than those produced since those of the current size and […]
By Joshua McMorrow-Hernandez for PCGS …… Lincoln cent collectors new and seasoned alike know the three ubiquitous letters of their specialty. These are the letters “VDB”, which boldly appear on the reverse of the scarce 1909 VDB and rare 1909-S VDB Lincoln cents and the obverse of all Lincoln cents made since 1918. For many, […]
Description The Lincoln cent is the United States’ longest-serving coin. Its 1909 debut marked the centennial of the birth of Abraham Lincoln and its elegant sculptural design served as the vanguard of a new wave of American coin art. But while the golden age of American coin design is most associated with medallic artist and […]
By CoinWeek …. On Sunday, April 5, bidding ends on GreatCollections.com for this 1910 Lincoln Proof cent, graded PR-67 RD by PCGS and approved by CAC. Of the scarce Matte Proofs issued from 1909 through 1916, the 1910 has the highest official mintage at 4,118 (all the rest are under 3,000 to lesser and greater […]
The story of the 1916-D Lincoln cent, which claims a mintage approaching 36 million coins, mirrors those of its contemporaries. The issue can be found without trouble through grades as high as MS64 Red, though many pieces are spotted or struck from excessively worn dies, displaying soft detail. Nonetheless, even Gem Red coins are accessible, […]
By Joshua McMorrow-Hernandez for PCGS …… There are few 20th-century coins as popular with numismatists and non-numismatists alike as 1943 Lincoln Steel cents. Struck as an emergency measure to help save copper for ammunition shells to be used by Allied Forces during World War II, 1943 Lincoln Steel cents are a product of war-era rationing […]
By Joshua McMorrow-Hernandez for PCGS …… The Lincoln cent is one of the most popular United States series, and over its century-plus run that began in 1909 it has spawned a multitude of exciting varieties. Among the rarest breed of these are doubled dies, and many collectors know the most popular pieces by heart, including […]
By Joshua McMorrow-Hernandez for PCGS …… What’s up with the unusual raised dot on the reverse of some 1875 Indian Head cents? That’s the question many coin collectors have asked for decades. The little raised dot in question appears near the top left corner of the “N” in the word “ONE” on the reverse of […]
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 […]
By Joshua McMorrow-Hernandez for PCGS …… It’s perhaps hard to believe that 10 years have already passed since the first Lincoln Union Shield cent emerged in 2010. It came about as the fifth and final reverse redesign in fewer than 13 months following 2009’s successful four-coin circulating commemorative program showcasing Abraham Lincoln’s colorful life from […]
By David W. Lange for CoinWeek ….. There are a handful of events that have brought the hobby of collecting coins front and center in America’s consciousness. Perhaps the first was the discontinuance of large cents in 1857 that set people scrambling to find one of every date while they lasted. Another was the debut […]
The 1943 Donald Lutes bronze cent, at left above, and the 1943-S Kenneth S. Wing bronze cent. The ultra-rare NGC-certified Lutes and Wing 1943 Bronze Cents each recently realized more than $200,000 and received wide media coverage Two of the rarest and most famous US coins have been brought together under a single owner. The […]
The Flying Eagle Cent By Blanchard and Company, Inc ….. It was the 1850s and the United States Mint had a problem. The “large cent”, which was simply a penny, was becoming too expensive to manufacture. The coin was nearly the size of a half dollar and consisted entirely of copper. They needed an alternative. […]
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 […]
Heritage Auctions announces it has been chosen to present The Castle Collection of Indian Cents – the world’s finest examples obtainable of this widely collected 19th-century set – at its August 13-20 official auction of the ANA’s World’s Fair of Money. The Castle Collection is estimated to bring seven figures when it makes its auction […]
Lincoln Wheat Cent By CoinWeek …. Later this week on Sunday, June 23, bidding ends on this 1924 Lincoln Wheat cent, graded MS-67+ RD by PCGS, on GreatCollections.com. Even though the Philadelphia Mint produced over 75 million pennies in 1924, all cents struck before roughly 1930 tend to be scarce in high condition. The present […]
By David W. Lange for Whitman Publishing …… Like most numismatists of my generation, I discovered the hobby of collecting coins through the Lincoln cent series. My introduction occurred at a very tender age, around six or seven, and I have my older brother Doug to thank for that. In the early 1960s, coin collecting […]
By Lianna Spurrier for CoinWeek ….. Flying eagle cents offer a unique opportunity to collectors. Many early coins, such as large cents, have been extensively studied and are commonly collected by die pairing and variety. Most of these populations have been well picked over, and the series contains so many different coins that getting started […]
By Lianna Spurrier for CoinWeek ….. Flying eagle cents offer a unique opportunity to collectors. Many early coins, such as large cents, have been extensively studied and are commonly collected by die pairing and variety. Most of these populations have been well picked over, and the series contains so many different coins that getting […]
Solving the copper conundrum; summer expos around the corner By Jim Bisognani – NGC Weekly Market Report ….. Although the first day of summer is a month away, spring is still having a hard time establishing itself here in my New Hampshire. This morning, as I made my way to my home office, it was a rather […]
By CoinWeek …. On Sunday, April 14, bidding ends on GreatCollections.com for an exceptional bronze 1864 Indian cent. Graded MS-66 RD by PCGS in an Old Green Holder and approved by CAC, this Civil War-era cent features appealing original luster and a sharp strike – especially around the inscriptions and Liberty’s headdress. The coin’s eye […]
A special NGC attribution and label are among the ways coin collectors can recognize this historic US Mint release. Special submission instructions must be followed. See the “Submission Instructions” section of this article * * * The United States Mint has announced that a 2019-W Proof Cent will be included with all purchases of the […]
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 […]
Numismatic Guaranty Corporation® (NGC®) has certified a 1943 Copper Cent that was found in a gumball machine decades ago. The 1943 Copper Cent is generally regarded as the most famous of all mint errors. All 1943 cents were supposed to have been struck in zinc-coated steel so that copper could be conserved for more important […]
By Jim Bisognani – NGC Weekly Market Report ….. As often happens during the winter season, I find myself at the mercy of the elements. This past weekend was one of those occasions: moderate snowfall lingering all day, howling winds and frigid temps. Old Man Winter’s wrath allotted me time to stay inside my warm abode, and with […]
By Harlan J. Berk, Ltd …… The Images Collection is an exceptionally fine assemblage of Mint State Flying Eagle and Indian cents built over an eight-year period, with 61 of the 62 coins purchased prior to August of 2002. The collector had a remarkably good eye for color and quality, and it shows throughout. The […]
Whitman Publishing has released an updated and revised third edition of its best-selling Guide Book of Lincoln Cents. It continues in the popular tradition of the Guide Book of Morgan Silver Dollars and other Bowers Series numismatic guides, which number more than two dozen volumes. The 320-page full-color book is available now, in January […]
Coin Rarities & Related Topics: Lincoln Cent Errors , coin markets #306 For CoinWeek by Greg Reynolds….. Although 1909-S VDB and 1914-D pennies are often thought of as the most important Lincoln cents, the most valuable Lincoln cent errors; ‘cents’ are the off-metal errors struck in 1943 and 1944, which relate to U.S. involvement in World […]
GENUINE 1972 Double Die Lincoln Cent – courtesy of Heritage Auctions. By Max Spiegel, Numismatic Researcher, NGC…. NGC recently received a fake 1972 Doubled Die Lincoln Cent, which is not something that we see often. There are a handful of varieties that are regularly seen faked, including the Philadelphia and Denver 1942/41 Mercury Dimes, the […]
Counterfeit 1875 Indian Head Cent By Max Spiegel – Numismatic Guaranty Corporation ……………… Many Chinese counterfeits are made from dies that are not directly copied from genuine examples, therefore many of the details are incorrect. Cents have long been the target of counterfeiters because of the numerous key dates and the popularity of this denomination […]
Spark erosion counterfeit coins aren’t made very frequently anymore because they are easy to spot once you learn how Spark-Erosion Counterfeit 1858 Flying Eagle Cent By Numismatic Guaranty Corporation (NGC) …… This 1858 Small Letters Flying Eagle Cent was recently submitted to NGC for certification. It was immediately recognized as an older style of […]
GENUINE 1972 Double Die Cent – courtesy of Heritage Auctions. By Max Spiegel, Numismatic Researcher, NGC…. NGC recently received a fake 1972 Doubled Die Cent, which is not something that we see often. There are a handful of varieties that are regularly seen faked, including the Philadelphia and Denver 1942/41 Mercury Dimes, the 1955 Doubled […]
By Kathleen Duncan – Pinnacle Rarities ………. President Teddy Roosevelt influenced changes in all United States’ coin designs between 1907-1921. He became acquainted in 1908 with Victor David Brenner when Brenner was commissioned to do his portrait for the Panama Canal Service Medal. As the Centennial of Lincoln’s birth was approaching, Brenner had recently completed […]
Coin Rarities & Related Topics: News and Analysis regarding scarce coins, coin markets, and the coin collecting community, #261 A Weekly CoinWeek Column by Greg Reynolds …….. From 1793 to 1857, one cent coins were about the size of quarters. During the 1850s,‘ups and downs’ in markets for copper, as a metal, and a growing […]
Complicating matters was a trend of volatility in the copper market.
In full Mint State Red, MS65 examples have a value of between $10 and $20. The value of the 1974 Lincoln cent edges up by a few dollars in MS66 Red. Our expected value of a coin in this grade is between $20 and $30. These prices are more or less equivalent to the cost of submitting the coin for grading. 1974 cents have a larger premium in MS67 Red. One excellent example was sold in March 2020 at a David Lawrence Rare Coins online auction for 
For Proof coins, prices are modest for lower-grade issues up to near-Gem grades, but as with circulation strikes, for some dates even Premium Gem and finer coins are relatively affordable. The “L On Ribbon” 1864 pieces are expensive in all grades, and very expensive as Gem or finer. A few 1860s issues are more expensive than other dates, and the key date 1877 Proof issue is considerably more expensive than all but the L On Ribbon examples in all grades. Cameo Proof coins have a modest price premium at lower grades that increases at higher grades.