The 1880 1C Indian Head Penny is a regular strike coin minted at the Philadelphia Mint, continuing the enduring legacy of designer James Barton Longacre. This particular year's coin is notable for its relatively high mintage, making it one of the more accessible dates for collectors within the Indian Head cent series.
Product Specifications:
- Designer: James Barton Longacre
- Mint: Philadelphia
- Mintage: 38,961,000
- Metal Composition: 95% Copper, 5% Tin and Zinc
- Diameter: 19.00 millimeters
- Weight: 3.11 grams
- Edge: Plain
- Year of Issue: 1880
Design Highlights:
The 1880 Indian Head Penny features the iconic design of Lady Liberty wearing a Native American headdress on the obverse, with "LIBERTY" prominently inscribed on the band and the date "1880" below. The reverse design includes a wreath circling the denomination "ONE CENT," with "UNITED STATES OF AMERICA" framing the design.
Collectibility and Rarity:
With over 38 million coins minted, the 1880 Indian Head Penny is widely available in circulated grades, making it an excellent starting point for new collectors. In uncirculated grades, this penny becomes less common, with scarcity increasing for examples that exhibit Red-Brown (RB) or full Red (RD) surfaces. According to the PCGS Population Report, the highest graded examples of this issue are at MS67, with fewer than a handful of coins achieving the MS67 Red designation, and none graded higher.
Numismatic Value and Significance:
The 1880 1C Indian Head Penny is a representative piece of late 19th-century American coinage. Its prevalence in lower grades makes it a staple in many collections, while the challenge of finding high-grade examples, especially with original red coloration, offers a rewarding pursuit for more advanced collectors. The coin is valued both for its aesthetic design and the historical context of its era, making it a timeless piece of Americana.
