Indian Head Small Cent

The small cents of the mid 1850s were called “white cents’ because of their pale color and they became popular quickly in the United States. Due to striking problems with the Flying Eagle design, the “Indian Head” small cent was produced. The Indian depicted on the small cent was not an American Indian but was apparently modeled after the Greco-Roman statue Venus Accroupie. The new design was well received by the public due to their small size.

Bags of cents were used as a primary means of payment by those who had no silver coins. Soon the cents were being hoarded because there were ‘government issued coins’ in circulation that were preferred at the time. The price of nickel was on the rise due to the Civil War, which gave the Indian Head Small Cent more value to Americans as they thought the coins would increase in value so they tucked them away. In 1864 the Indian Head Small Cent was made in bronze to replace the copper-nickel. This new cent was lighter and still bore the Indian Head design and simple wreath and shield on the back. It was accepted by the public and the cent shortage ended. Both types of Indian Head Small Cents were now being made, the copper-nickel and the bronze. The bronze Indian cents remained in production for nearly fifty years before giving way to the Abraham Lincoln design in 1909. Indian Heads were struck only at the main mint in Philadelphia.

When grading Indian Head Small Cents the first places that show wear is the hair above the ear and the curl to the right of the ribbon and on the reverse, on the bow knot.