Indian Head USA one cent (penny) values, pg 2 (1873 to 1890) Indian Head USA one cent (penny) values, pg 3 (1891 to 1909) Indian Head USA one cent (penny) values, pg 3 (1891 to 1909) Australian coin and banknote values New Zealand predecimal coin values UK coin values - 1801 to 1967 United States coin values - 1792 to present All Coin Values. If you’re lucky enough to have some Indian Head Pennies laying around, you’ll be happy to hear that they’re at least worth 200% of their face value. That’s right, even non-key date Indian Head Pennies in rough condition are worth at least $2. For something different, try finding a 1909-S Indian Head cent, which is considerably scarcer. $300 will probably only get you a VG of that date, but it will add the lowest mintage of the series to your collection, as only 309,000 pieces were struck for circulation; this is less than the classic key-date of the next series, the 1909-S VDB Lincoln Wheat cent.

• Indian Head Penny Complete Set
• Indian Head Penny Value 1859
• Indian Head Penny Value By Year
• Rare Indian Head Pennies
• 1883 Indian Head Penny Value

The Indian Head Penny also sometimes referred to as the Indian Head Cent by collectors is a copper coin that preceded the Wheat Penny and Lincoln Penny. Years minted 1859-1909

Indian Head Penny Complete Set

The front (obverse) of the coin contains the head of Lady Liberty wearing a chieftains headdress sometimes referred to as a war bonnet.

Indian Head Penny Value 1859

The rear (reverse) cointains a wreath and the words one cent as well as a shield on the top middle. The original 1959 release did not include the shield, but all other years do.

The face value of this coin is 1 cent. The chemical composition is 88% copper and 12% nickel from the years 1859-1864. The composition changes in 1965 95% copper, 5% tin (sometimes zinc was used in place of copper).

The coins are popular with those Native American heritage, and while just 2 million individuals are enrolled as members of a tribe, most people in the US today claim to be at least part Native American.

I remember fondly collecting the Indian Head Pennies and the Buffalo Nickels with my Grandmother who was 50% Cherokee. So on a personal note I love these coins, if for nothing else than their sentimental value.

As with most coins of this age the Indian Head Cent is worth many times more than it's face value indicates. Prices are well above the $10 mark for all of these coins (even in less than mint state) up until about 1879 at which time the minimum is still $1 to $3 on average. Point being..if you find one don't spend it at face value.

* Notice as of December 2006 it is illegal to melt down US Minted Pennies and Nickels, and there is a $10,000 fine to help enforce the law. It is legal however to melt down silver dollars, half dollars, dimes, quarters for their content.

Indian Head Penny Values

All US Pennies 1859 to 2021

Indian Head Penny Overview

Although sometimes overshadowed by the Lincoln Wheat penny, the Indian Head cent was a highly praised coin during its release and is still lauded in modern times by collectors. The simplistic and historical design is what inspired future coin designs, such as the famous Lincoln Wheat cent.

Both the obverse and reverse designs were created by US Mint engraver James B. Longacre in 1859. Dubbed the Indian Head cent, Longacre’s design would be put into production later that year. Production would continue until 1909, which is when the Lincoln Wheat Cent would take over as the main design for the one-cent denomination.

Centered on the obverse of the coin is a bust of Liberty that is wearing a traditional Native American Headdress. “LIBERTY” can be found on the brim of the headdress, and the words “UNITED STATES OF AMERICA” run along the edge of the coin. The date of mintage is found just below the neck of Liberty.

The reverse of the coin is very simple with the words “ONE CENT” centered and surrounded by a wreath. A bundle of arrows sits under the bottom of the wreath, and a small shield sits atop the wreath.

If you would like to learn more about Indian Head pennies and other collectible US one-cent pieces, be sure to check out our Ultimate Guide to Pennies.

History of the 1899 Indian Head Penny

The year 1899 was an uninteresting year for the Indian Head penny; no real problems––neither internally at the mint nor externally in circulation––occurred. Many coins were produced and were very common in circulation.

The Mint at Philadelphia reports striking a total of 53,598,000 Indian Head pennies dated 1899. This was a much higher mintage than most other years in the series and is what has led to so many examples still surviving today.

Like all other Indian Head pennies minted from 1864 till 1909, the 1899 Indian Head penny weighs 3.11 grams and measures 19.05 millimeters in diameter. Denticles (small dots found on the surface of the coin near the rim) are present, and no reeding can be found on the edges.

Red, Red Brown, and Brown Toning on Indian Head Pennies

An interesting topic for those who collect bronze or copper pennies is the designation by third-party graders regarding the coins coloring. This coloring can lead to big changes in price as collectors normally prefer one type over the others.

Indian Head Penny Value By Year

The change in color is caused by the toning that the copper undergoes over time. New copper that hasn’t been exposed to the elements tends to be a very bright red or almost pink color. As time goes on, this red coloring begins to darken and later turns brown as more copper oxide begins to form on the surface of the coin.

This is where the designations for color, or, more specifically, toning, come into play. The designations effectively identify how much environmental damage the coin has undergone. To be clear, slight toning does not damage a coin and will just make the coin a little darker

Indian Head pennies that have a brown designation are coins that have undergone toning that has turned the coin a nice chocolate or dark brown color. Depending on storage conditions, some coins may develop toning in some spots while the rest of the coin remains bright. These type of coins would receive a Red Brown designation, showing that the coin has some toning but also some original copper.

Red Indian Head pennies are the most sought after as they show no signs of toning, meaning that they were well preserved for over one hundred years.

Each designation brings with it a different type of premium. Brown Indian Head pennies are normally slightly discounted compared to Red Brown examples. Red Indian Head pennies will always carry a premium over the other designations.

Pricing the 1899 Indian Head Penny

Because of the large mintage, many 1899 Indian Head pennies have survived, in all types of condition. Most found will be in a circulated condition, but many uncirculated examples still survive. For this article, the prices given are for coins that would be considered Brown by a third-party grader.

Examples in grades Good 4 and Very Good 8 have a price range of $3–$3.50. Prices increase to $5 in Fine 12 and then to $8 in Very Fine 20. Extremely Fine 40 examples have a going price of $15.

Rare Indian Head Pennies

Uncirculated examples in MS-60 condition realize a price of $40. A price increase to $70 can be seen in MS-63. MS-65 grades are somewhat rarer and command a price of $180.

1883 Indian Head Penny Value

1899 Indian Head pennies that receive a Red designation command a much higher price than those that have a Red Brown or Brown designation.