Indian Head Cent

About This Series

James B. Longacre designed the Indian Head cent, and the story that he used his daughter as the model for Liberty wearing a war bonnet has circulated for generations - most historians doubt it. The coin ran from 1859 to 1909, first in copper-nickel, then in bronze from 1864. The 1877 is the key date, with a mintage under 900,000 and very few surviving in decent condition. The 1908-S and 1909-S were the first branch-mint cents in the series, produced shortly before the Lincoln cent arrived. Both are popular and still affordable compared to the 1877.