1889 Indian Head Penny

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1889 Indian Penny Wonder Coin Amazing: An Indian penny this old surviving until today with its original mint luster. Bright yellow-gold radiating across the entire surface and still intact on a 120 plus year old copper is a rarity. Many collectors would proudly place this coin as a center piece to their collection. Mint has struck more 2009 Lincoln Cents in the first six months 2009, than the entire last decade of the Indian Cents together! The obverse features Lady Liberty wearing a feathered headdress, while the reverse shows a laurel oak wreath with a small shield. This is the 1889 Indian Head Cent. The Indian Head Penny, also sometimes referred to as the Indian Head Cent by collectors, is a Copper Coin that was produced prior to the Wheat Penny “Wheatie” and Lincoln Memorial Penny. “1889 Indian Head Penny Mintage: 48,900,000 'Indian Head Pennies were minted from 1859 to 1909”. The 1889 Indian Head Penny value for a nice circulated specimen can be currently found for around $20-$30. However, higher end mint state quality coins can run you north of $80-$100. Of course like any coin, the higher the grade the more expensive the coin is.

CoinTrackers.com has estimated the 1879 Indian Head Penny value at an average of $6, one in certified mint state (MS+) could be worth $170. (see details)...

Type:Indian Head Penny
Year:1879
Mint Mark: No mint mark
Face Value: 0.01 USD
Total Produced: 16,228,000 [?]
Silver Content: 0%
Numismatic Value: $6 to $170.00
Value: As a rough estimate of this coins value you can assume this coin in average condition will be valued at somewhere around $6, while one in certified mint state (MS+) condition could bring as much as $170 at auction. This price does not reference any standard coin grading scale. So when we say average, we mean in a similar condition to other coins issued in 1879, and mint state meaning it is certified MS+ by one of the top coin grading companies. [?].

Additional Info: Between the year 1878 and 1879 the US Mint increased the production of the Indian Head Cent 3 fold. Going from just 5.6 million minted the year before to more than 16 million in 1879. This increased production as expected created more supply and the value of the coin fell. This makes the coins a little more economical if you will. Still a good addition to your coin collection.


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**When we say that 16,228,000, of these coins were produced or minted in 1879 this number doesn't always match the actual circulation count for this coin. The numbers come from the United States mint, and they don't reflect coins that have been melted, destroyed, or those that have never been released. Please keep that in mind.

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***Price subject to standard supply and demand laws, dealer premiums, and other market variations. Prices represent past values fetched at online auctions, estate sales, certified coins being sold by dealers, and user submitted values. While we wholeheartedly try to give honest price estimates there are many factors besides appearance, metal content, and rarity that help make up the coins overall value.Call or visit your local coin dealer for more information.

We use user submitted pictures please read that article if you are interested in adding your own.

1889 Indian Head Penny

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  • 1889 Indian Head Pennies
Joshua McMorrow-Hernandez

Coin Info

N/A
United States
Copper Coin
$0.01 USD
48,869,361

Value Of 1889 Indian Head Penny

U.S. Mint
1889

1889 Indian Head cents are highly common and are often encountered in mixed-date rolls of Indian Head cents. They’re also readily found at most coin shops that sell U.S. 19th- and 20th-century coinage. 1889 pennies are primarily bought by collectors who are building type sets and numismatists who are assembling a series collection of Indian Head pennies. 1889 Indian Head pennies are also popular among those who may not collect pennies but still want an inexpensive example of this classic American coin.

1889 Indian Head cents were made in large numbers. 48,866,025 were struck, and they retail for as little as $2.25 in a grade of Good-4. 3,336 proof pennies were also made in 1889, and these retail for $1,900.

Chief Engraver of the United States Mint James B. Longacre was the designer of the Indian Head penny. He served in his role as Chief Engraver from 1844 until his death in 1869 and became well known for producing the two-cent piece, which in 1864 became the first U.S. coin to bear the motto IN GOD WE TRUST.

Interestingly, 1889 Indian Head pennies don’t actually feature a Native American at all. The figure on the obverse of the coin represents Miss Liberty, and this head was modeled after Longacre’s red-headed daughter, Sarah.

1889 Indian Head Penny Value Chart

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