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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.
- 1899 Indian Head Cent. 5 1899 Indian Head. 1899 Indian Head. More Items From Proxibid, Inc. 1914-D Barber Dime. 1918-P Buffalo Nickel. 1912-D Liberty V Nickel.
- Heritage Auction Galleries. 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.
Both the obverse and reverse designs were created by US Mint engraver James B. Pharaohs way slot game. 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.
Real money cramer. 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.
1899 Indian Head Penny Worth
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.
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.
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1899 Indian Head Penny Ebay
1899 Indian Head pennies that receive a Red designation command a much higher price than those that have a Red Brown or Brown designation.