Indian Head Cent - Inception

Inception

In 1858, The Mint tested new designs for the cent. Although the Flying Eagle cent, which began regular production in 1857, is aesthetically pleasing to collectors today, it was proving to be an unsatisfactory design for producing thick coins in hard metal. The head and tail of the eagle were opposite the wreath on the reverse. The coins did not strike-up well, and if the striking pressure was increased, the dies broke too easily. The Indian Head design was much better suited because the design was more central and did not oppose the metal flow with the wreath on the reverse. The Director of the Mint, James Ross Snowden, submitted models for a new design, and Secretary Cobb gave his approval to the Indian Head Cent.

The production of Indian Cents between 1859 and 1860 was large because copper large cents and half cents in circulation until 1857 were being redeemed with the new cents. Some years production, like 1861 was based solely on the number of the pre-1857 copper coins that were redeemed under the Mint Act of March 3, 1857, which allowed for their redemption until 1860 (revised to extend until 1861).

Other than the already noted slight design changes made in 1860, 1864, and 1886, the series continued without major varieties from 1859 to 1909. There are slight date variations in 1865 (fancy 5 and plain 5), 1873 (open and closed 3), as well as a well known overdate (1888/7). An unusual variety was recently discovered when it was found that some 1875 cents had a tiny dot in the "N" of "ONE". This may have been a secret mark added to one die to catch a mint employee stealing coins.

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