Which Coin Would You Buy If You Were Me?

It sounds like you are buying from an antique store, in which I would advise not to do. Antique store are often the venue for coin dealers to consign items which have problems. They will overgrade at the shops because they seldom have direct contact with the customer who may call them out. However, if you are determined to buy one and feel comfortable about the grade, buy the indian. The rationale for this is follows:
Price - a full red ms 64 Lincoln sheets for $35 while a 1861 indian sheets for $50. Additionally, high grade red/brown or brown Lincolns are hard to sell, but the color is not that important for circulated CN coins.
1861 is the beginning of the American Civil war and coins from this era are very popular. Coins from the civil war appeal to collectors of other fields not just numismatists.
Finally, many collectors like to put together type sets. The copper nickel cent was only issued for less than ten years, so collectors will always have a need for this short lived design.
The very best advice I can give you is what I tell every one of my customers: buy an ANA grading guide before you buy anymore coins! Get the color version and read it. It can save you some costly mistakes.
Best Wishes and Good Luck,
SW

I think you should put them side by side and whichever one appeals to you will be the right coin. With that said I would go with the IHC, it is over 150 years old!

I agree. Patiently waiting for the final decision.

I compared both and picked this one. I didn't notice it before but the 1933 "D" cent was maybe 10% rotated.

In the condition its in it must not have had a very hard life. I also got that old bottle and will probably post it later.

I'd go with Indian Head penny :)

Looks like a very nice coin. Did it turn out to be an "easy" decision?

It took me 5 minutes in the coin store looking at the two until I made the decision.

The MS64 Lincoln. There are more IHC's of that year and grade, than the Lincoln in that grade.