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1859 - 1909 Indian Head Cent Facts

Indian Head Cent General Grading Standards
G4 Good - No LIBERTY visible.
VG8 Very Good - At least three letters of LIBERTY readable on head band.
F12 Fine - LIBERTY completely visible.
VF20 Very Fine - Slight but even wear on LIBERTY.
EF40 Extremely Fine - LIBERTY sharp. All other details sharp. Only slight wear on ribbon end.
AU50 About Uncirculated - Very slight trace of wear above the ear and the lowest curl of hair.
MS60 Uncirculated - No trace of wear. Light blemishes.
MS63 Select Uncirculated - Some distracting contact marks or blemishes in prime focal areas. Luster may be impaired.

Copper Nickel, Without Shield (1859)

1859 Indian Head Cent Obverse and Reverse
1859 Indian Head Cent
Image Courtesy of CCF Numismatics
Designer: James B. LongacreWeight: 4.67 grams
Diameter: 19 millimetersEdge: Plain
Content: 88% copper 12% nickel 
Year/ Mint MarkCirculation StrikesProof Strikes
185936,400,000About 800

Copper Nickel With Shield (1860 - 1864)

1860 Indian Head Cent Proof Obverse and Reverse
1860 Indian Head Cent Proof
Image Courtesy of CCF Numismatics
Designer: James B. LongacreWeight: 4.67 grams
Diameter: 19 millimetersEdge: Plain
Content: 88% copper 12% nickel 
Year/ Mint MarkCirculation StrikesProof Strikes
186020,566,000About 1,000
186110,100,000About 1,000
186228,075,000About 550
186349,840,000About 460
1864 Copper-Nickel13,740,000About 370

Copper With Shield (1864 - 1909)

Designer: James B. LongacreWeight: 3.11 grams
Diameter: 19 millimetersEdge: Plain
Content: 95% copper 5% tin / zinc 
Year/ Mint MarkCirculation StrikesProof Strikes
186439,233,714About 150
1864 LBelieved to be 5,000,000 out of the total 1864 mintage of 39,233,714About 20
186535,429,286About 500
18669,286,500About 725
18679,821,000About 625
186810,266,500About 600
18696,420,000About 600
18705,275,000About 1,000
18713,929,500About 960
18724,042,000About 950
187311,676,500About 1,100
187414,187,500About 700
187513,528,000About 700
18767,944,000About 1,150
1877852,500About 1,000
18785,797,500About 2,350
187916,228,000About 3,200
188038,961,000About 3,955
188139,208,000About 3,575
188238,578,000About 3,100
188345,591,5006,609
188423,257,8003,942
188511,761,5943,790
188617,650,0004,290
188745,223,5232,960
188837,489,8324,582
188948,866,0253,336
189057,180,1142,740
189147,070,0002,745
189237,647,0872,745
189346,640,0002,195
189416,749,5002,632
189538,341,4742,062
189639,055,4311,862
189750,464,3921,938
189849,281,2841,795
189953,598,0002,031
190066,831,5022,262
190179,609,1581,985
190287,374,7042,018
190385,092,7031,790
190461,326,1981,817
190580,717,0112,152
190696,020,5301,725
1907108,137,1431,475
190832,326,3671,620
1908 S1,115,0000
190914,368,4702,175
1909 S309,0000

Mint Mark Legend:

Below the bow of the wreath on the reverse.

Mint MarkMintDate of Operation
NonePhiladelphia1793-present
SSan Francisco, CA1854-1955; 1968-present


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