The 1879 1C Indian Head Penny is a regular strike coin minted at the Philadelphia Mint. This coin features the design work of James Barton Longacre and is a prominent semi-key date within the Indian Head cent series.
Product Specifications:
- Designer: James Barton Longacre
- Mint: Philadelphia
- Mintage: 16,228,000
- Metal Composition: 95% Copper, 5% Tin and Zinc
- Diameter: 19.00 millimeters
- Weight: 3.11 grams
- Edge: Plain
- Year of Issue: 1879
Design Highlights:
The obverse of the 1879 Indian Head Penny showcases the iconic design of Lady Liberty in a Native American headdress, symbolizing America's rich cultural history. The date "1879" is positioned below the profile, with "LIBERTY" inscribed on the headdress. The reverse features the traditional wreath design encircling the "ONE CENT" denomination, with "UNITED STATES OF AMERICA" around the wreath's border.
Collectibility and Rarity:
As one of the semi-key dates, the 1879 Indian Head Penny is considered to have one of the lower mintages in the series, attracting a slight premium over more common dates in most grades. It is relatively accessible in lower uncirculated grades but becomes very scarce in MS65 and above, with only a few hundred examples known. In MS66, the coin is exceedingly rare, with perhaps just a few dozen specimens in existence. The coin's rarity escalates significantly in MS67, with only a handful of known examples, making such pieces extremely valuable to collectors.
Numismatic Value and Significance:
The 1879 1C Indian Head Penny is sought after by collectors for its rarity, especially in high-grade conditions, and its historical significance during a period of growth and innovation in the United States. For numismatists, acquiring an 1879 penny in pristine condition is a noteworthy accomplishment, given its scarcity and the glimpse it provides into American coinage at the close of the 19th century.
