1. 1859 Indian Head Penny Rare
2. 1859 One Cent Coin Value
3. 1859 Indian Head Penny Ebay

• 1859 Indian Head Pennies

The 1859 Indian Head proof penny is worth around $1,650 in PR 63 condition. Rare Oak Wreath Coins. In 1860 the design changed slightly on both the obverse and reverse sides of the coin. The new design, known as type 2, has an oak wreath and a shield on the reverse side of the coin. A small number of 1859 pennies have this design. In 1859, when Indian Head cents were first made, they were composed of 88 percent copper and 12 percent nickel. In 1864, the U.S. Mint stopped using nickel in the production of Indian Head pennies and changed to a bronze composition, consisting of 95 percent copper and 5 percent tin and zinc. Proof Indian Head cents were and are a separate specialty; the first coin I ever ordered by mail was a Gem Proof 1859 Indian Head cent for $11 from the Copley Coin Company (Maurice M. Gould and Frank Washburn in Boston) in the late 1950s. Indian Cents (1859-1909): The Indian Head Cents started in 1859. The coin represents Liberty wearing an Indian headdress, not an actual Indian. 1859 represents a one year type coin with a different wreath on the reverse. Major key dates are the 1877 and 1909-S. Semi key dates include the 1864-L, 1869-1872 and 1908-S. USA Coin Book Estimated Value of 1859 Indian Head Penny (Laurel Wreath Reverse Without Shield Variety) is Worth $22 in Average Condition and can be Worth $299 to $626 or more in Uncirculated.

Coin Info

1859 Indian Head Penny Rare

1859 marks the first year of Indian Head cents and the second official small cent series. Much like the Flying Eagle pennies that preceded them, 1859 Indian Head cents are made from a copper-nickel composition, giving these early pennies more of a whitish appearance than the bronze pennies of latter years. The Indian Head penny was designed by James B. Longacre and is commonly thought to depict a Native American of one tribe or another. In fact, the model for the Indian Head penny is believed to be Sarah Longacre, the designer’s 12-year-old daughter, who was playfully crowned with a traditional headdress by a visiting chief. The figure on the obverse is actually supposed to be that of Miss Liberty.

The 1859 Indian Head cent is available in both a business-strike and proof specimens. 36,400,000 business-strikes were made while 800 proofs were produced. Circulated 1859 Indian Head pennies in a grade of good sell for around $14, while the much rare proof specimen has a value of around $5,200.

In 1859, the reverse featured the words ONE CENT encircled in a laurel wreath. This is the only year that design would be employed on the Indian Head cent. The following year, an oak wreath with shield would grace the reverse of the coin.

The Indian Head penny would be struck for 50 years and is the design that immediately preceded the Lincoln penny, which would first enter circulation in the summer of 1909. 1859 Indian Head pennies are widely collected both by date for inclusion as a part of the entire series and as a type coins representing the copper-nickel Indian Head pennies, which were made from 1859 through 1864.

The Indian Head Penny is a one cent coin that was produced by the United States Mint from 1859 through 1909.

On the front of the coin, Liberty is depicted as a Native American wearing a feather head dress with the word 'LIBERTY' on it.

The words 'UNITED STATES OF AMERICA', and the date also appear on the front of the Indian Head Cent.

For the first year, the reverse had the words 'ONE CENT' inside a laurel wreath.

In 1860 this was changed to an oak wreath with a small shield.

The Indian Head Pennies were made up of 88% copper and 12% nickel from 1859 to 1864. Then in 1864 they began making them of bronze which is 95% copper and 5% tin and zinc. The weight of the coins was also reduced.

The early Indian Head Cents also went by the nickname 'Nick' or nickel. This was before there was such a thing as the nickel 5 cent coin we know today. They were given that name because of the nickel they contained.

The Indian Head Pennies lost their nickname in 1866 when five cent nickel coins were produced.

It has been rumored that the model for the Indian likeness was the daughter of James Barton Longacre who designed the Indian Head Penny, but it has not been proven.

In 1908 the Indian Head Penny was produced at the San Francisco Mint. This was the first time that one cent coins were minted anywhere but the Philadelphia Mint.

1859 One Cent Coin Value

The Indian Pennies produced at the San Francisco mint have the 'S' mint mark. The coins minted in Philadelphia, however, do not have any identifying mint marks. An Indian Head Penny with and 'S' mint mark is somewhat scarce, hence they are more valuable than other Indian Head Cents.

The Denver Mint did not see one cent coin production until 1911.

There are Three Varieties of Indian Head Pennies

1859 Indian Head Penny Ebay

Variety 1 - Copper-Nickel, Laurel Wreath Reverse 1859

Variety 2 - Copper-Nickel, Oak Wreath With Shield 1860-1864

Variety 3 - Bronze 1864-1909

During the Civil War, almost all gold and silver coins disappeared from circulation. Eventually the copper-nickel coins also became scarce. Merchants in larger cities began to issue their own copper tokens so that they would have change for their customers. The government stepped in in 1864 and began issuing its own thin bronze one cent coin. They also made the merchant's tokens illegal.

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