In 1859, on the eve of the American Civil War, the Indian Head penny made its debut. This coin would witness America’s transformation through its most turbulent era – from the Civil War through Reconstruction to the dawn of the 20th century.
Despite its name, the design features Lady Liberty wearing a Native American headdress rather than an actual Native American profile. This unique American coin became one of the most beloved pieces in numismatic history, carrying both monetary and historical value that endures today.
Looking for the most valuable pennies?
- (1959 – Present): Top 100 Most Valuable Lincoln Pennies Worth Money
- (1909 – 1958): Top 100 Most Valuable Wheat Pennies Worth Money
- (1859 – 1909): Top 100 Most Valuable Indian Head Pennies Worth Money
- Value Chart: Lincoln Penny Value (1959 – Present)
- Value Chart: Lincoln Wheat Penny Value (1909 – 1958)
Indian Head Penny Value Chart (1859-1869)
| Year | GOOD | FINE | AU | MS | PR |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1859 | $19.66 | $72.83 | $255.00 | $1264.00 | — |
| 1859 PR | — | — | — | — | $3018.33 |
| 1860 | $15.00 | $46.33 | $135.00 | $948.33 | — |
| 1860 Pointed Bust | $21.06 | $74.83 | $210.00 | $2021.67 | — |
| 1860 PR | — | — | — | — | $1664.00 |
| 1861 | $24.60 | $71.67 | $180.00 | $3064.29 | — |
| 1861 PR | — | — | — | — | $2368.00 |
| 1862 | $18.00 | $44.17 | $96.00 | $2011.43 | — |
| 1862 PR | — | — | $500.00 | — | $1581.67 |
| 1863 | $13.00 | $40.67 | $110.00 | $941.67 | — |
| 1863 PR | — | — | — | — | $1856.67 |
| 1864 Copper-Nickel | $18.20 | $69.33 | $155.00 | $985.00 | — |
| 1864 Bronze | $13.93 | $53.17 | $130.00 | $348.33 | — |
| 1864 L on Ribbon | $63.80 | $196.67 | $345.00 | $748.00 | — |
| 1864 Copper-Nickel PR | — | — | — | — | $1963.33 |
| 1864 Bronze PR | — | — | — | — | $1305.00 |
| 1864 L On Ribbon PR | — | $7705.00 | — | — | $32900.00 |
| 1865 Fancy 5 | $14.40 | $50.17 | $105.00 | $346.00 | — |
| 1865 Plain 5 | $24.60 | $62.83 | $140.00 | $307.50 | — |
| 1865 PR | — | — | — | — | $598.00 |
| 1866 | $47.20 | $133.33 | $280.00 | $616.00 | — |
| 1866 PR | — | — | — | — | $586.00 |
| 1867 | $48.20 | $128.67 | $275.00 | $608.00 | — |
| 1867/67 | $124.40 | $453.33 | $950.00 | $2515.00 | — |
| 1867 PR | — | — | — | — | $867.50 |
| 1868 | $45.20 | $125.00 | $275.00 | $715.00 | — |
| 1868 PR | — | — | $160.00 | — | $663.33 |
| 1869 | $87.80 | $350.00 | $640.00 | $1236.00 | — |
| 1869 PR | — | — | — | — | $714.00 |
Indian Head Penny Value Chart (1870-1879)
| Year | GOOD | FINE | AU | MS | PR |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1870 | $63.20 | $301.67 | $570.00 | $1022.00 | — |
| 1870 PR | — | — | — | — | $562.00 |
| 1871 | $93.80 | $333.33 | $605.00 | $1136.00 | — |
| 1871 PR | — | — | $270.00 | — | $756.00 |
| 1872 | $90.20 | $355.00 | $650.00 | $1396.00 | — |
| 1872 PR | — | $270.00 | — | — | $942.00 |
| 1873 Open 3 | $38.20 | $109.00 | $250.00 | $564.00 | — |
| 1873 Closed 3 | $40.00 | $136.67 | $355.00 | $575.00 | — |
| 1873 Doubled Liberty | $268.00 | $1926.67 | $5150.00 | $7896.67 | — |
| 1873 Closed 3 PR | — | — | — | — | $520.00 |
| 1874 | $26.40 | $71.83 | $160.00 | $354.00 | — |
| 1874 PR | — | — | — | — | $422.00 |
| 1875 | $24.40 | $85.83 | $200.00 | $408.00 | — |
| 1875 PR | — | — | — | — | $488.00 |
| 1876 | $33.00 | $133.67 | $265.00 | $478.00 | — |
| 1876 PR | — | — | — | — | $450.00 |
| 1877 | $550.00 | $1788.33 | $3675.00 | $7068.00 | — |
| 1877 PR | — | $1630.00 | $2215.00 | — | $4028.00 |
| 1878 | $36.60 | $155.00 | $275.00 | $476.00 | — |
| 1878 PR | — | — | — | — | $470.00 |
| 1879 | $16.13 | $55.00 | $101.00 | $244.00 | — |
| 1879 PR | — | — | — | — | $418.33 |
Indian Head Penny Value Chart (1880-1889)
| Year | GOOD | FINE | AU | MS | PR |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1880 | $6.88 | $27.00 | $62.50 | $204.00 | — |
| 1880 PR | — | — | — | — | $486.67 |
| 1881 | $5.60 | $22.50 | $60.50 | $184.40 | — |
| 1881 PR | — | — | — | — | $490.00 |
| 1882 | $2.00 | $16.00 | $61.00 | $184.00 | — |
| 1882 PR | — | — | — | — | $435.00 |
| 1883 | $5.28 | $29.33 | $58.50 | $170.40 | — |
| 1883 PR | — | — | — | — | $463.33 |
| 1884 | $4.28 | $21.17 | $62.00 | $198.00 | — |
| 1884 PR | — | — | — | — | $446.67 |
| 1885 | $8.59 | $35.00 | $103.00 | $246.00 | — |
| 1885 PR | — | — | — | — | $445.00 |
| 1886 Type 1 | $11.59 | $89.17 | $200.00 | $398.00 | — |
| 1886 Type 2 | $31.79 | $102.83 | $260.00 | $475.00 | — |
| 1886 Type 1 PR | — | — | — | — | $872.86 |
| 1886 Type 2 PR | — | — | — | — | $711.67 |
| 1887 | $1.94 | $25.67 | $49.00 | $178.40 | — |
| 1887 PR | — | — | $100.00 | — | $486.67 |
| 1888 | $12.00 | $29.33 | $87.00 | $175.00 | — |
| 1888/7 | $1526.50 | $6785.00 | $20900.00 | $69000.00 | — |
| 1888 PR | — | — | — | — | $508.33 |
| 1889 | $2.17 | $14.33 | $51.50 | $125.50 | — |
| 1889 PR | — | — | — | — | $451.67 |
Indian Head Penny Value Chart (1890-1899)
| Year | GOOD | FINE | AU | MS | PR |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1890 | $1.57 | $10.33 | $44.50 | $153.00 | — |
| 1890 PR | — | — | $140.00 | — | $312.00 |
| 1891 | $3.71 | $18.67 | $48.50 | $146.20 | — |
| 1891 PR | — | — | — | — | $328.00 |
| 1892 | $3.71 | $24.00 | $48.00 | $111.25 | — |
| 1892 PR | — | — | — | — | $300.00 |
| 1893 | $3.91 | $15.50 | $34.50 | $345.50 | — |
| 1893 PR | — | — | — | — | $455.00 |
| 1894 | $5.08 | $29.33 | $71.00 | $194.00 | — |
| 1894 PR | — | — | $92.00 | — | $448.33 |
| 1895 | $1.60 | $18.50 | $52.00 | $125.50 | — |
| 1895 PR | — | — | — | — | $390.00 |
| 1896 | $1.00 | $14.00 | $39.00 | $164.20 | — |
| 1896 PR | — | — | — | — | $318.00 |
| 1897 | $2.37 | $14.67 | $35.00 | $110.25 | — |
| 1897 PR | — | — | — | — | $450.00 |
| 1898 | $11.25 | $36.17 | $55.00 | $142.20 | — |
| 1898 PR | — | — | — | — | $466.67 |
| 1899 | $4.11 | $17.83 | $38.00 | $119.60 | — |
| 1899 PR | — | — | — | — | $236.00 |
Indian Head Penny Value Chart (1900-1909)
| Year | GOOD | FINE | AU | MS | PR |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1900 | $1.00 | $7.17 | $34.00 | $201.50 | — |
| 1900 PR | — | — | — | — | $396.67 |
| 1901 | $1.60 | $15.50 | $37.00 | $102.20 | — |
| 1901 PR | — | — | — | — | $393.33 |
| 1902 | $1.00 | $9.83 | $34.00 | $84.80 | — |
| 1902 PR | — | — | — | — | $456.67 |
| 1903 | $1.00 | $9.00 | $36.00 | $86.40 | — |
| 1903 PR | — | — | — | — | $288.00 |
| 1904 | $1.00 | $7.17 | $32.50 | $72.25 | — |
| 1904 PR | — | — | — | — | $304.00 |
| 1905 | $1.00 | $7.67 | $35.00 | $99.20 | — |
| 1905 PR | — | — | $100.00 | — | $568.33 |
| 1906 | $2.20 | $11.83 | $31.50 | $93.00 | — |
| 1906 PR | — | — | — | — | $306.00 |
| 1907 | $1.60 | $10.17 | $34.00 | $74.50 | — |
| 1907 PR | — | — | — | — | $545.00 |
| 1908 | $1.00 | $8.00 | $33.50 | $111.20 | — |
| 1908-S | $65.80 | $133.33 | $255.00 | $515.00 | — |
| 1908 PR | — | — | $82.00 | — | $385.00 |
| 1909 | $1.40 | $17.50 | $40.00 | $111.40 | — |
| 1909-S | $340.00 | $528.33 | $905.00 | $1778.00 | — |
| 1909 PR | — | — | $100.00 | — | $354.00 |
Summary: Indian Head penny Value
The Indian Head penny circulated for exactly 50 years, from 1859 to 1909, spanning one of America’s most pivotal periods. Early years of production, particularly those minted in the decade before the Civil War, command premium values due to their historical significance.
Whether it’s the rare 1877 edition or common dates in exceptional condition, each Indian Head penny serves as a tangible link to America’s past. These coins remain highly sought after by collectors who appreciate not just their monetary worth, but their role as witnesses to a nation’s transformation.
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