1877 Indian Cents

This from an old (1891) Collectors' Magazine:

The U. S. cent of 1877 is a rarity by all accounts. Business during 1877 was at a very low ebb, and little demand existed for pennies. Few were minted, therefore, while in 1876 and 1878 the call was urgent. It is doubtful if the exact number stamped "1877" is known even to the mint officers themselves. An inquirer was informed by them in February, 1878, that less than ten thousand had been stamped. This would mean an issue of less than a million. In point of fact, however, it is probable that the actual coinage was far less. A coin collector began in 1881 a record of the number of pennies passing through his hands, and took the percentage of 1877 to the other dates. In 1881 he found the percentage to be .0048; in 1881 it was .0034; in 1883 it was .0032; in 1884 it was .0028. The record was abandoned after that, but from time to time examinations were made which showed the percentage had moved nearer the zero point. An examination of a quart of pennies collected this year from a slot machine showed but one of the 1877 date. Unfortunately, the examiner did not learn how many pennies there were in the lot, so the present percentage cannot be given.
IN a banker's window in Nassau street, is a frame containing sixteen of 1877 date, showing that one man at least has awakened to their rarity. One collector who has been on the lookout since January, 1878, has secured eighty-four of this date. Look over your change hereafter.