1881 Indian Head Penny

The 1881 Indian Head Penny had a relatively large mintage of over 39 million coins struck at the Philadelphia Mint. Due to the large mintage of this Indian Head Cent, it is one of the more common coins in the series in most circulated and Mint State grades up to about MS65. Once collectors start looking above MS65, the coin becomes scarcer, and then above MS67 becomes very scarce with about a dozen or less known to exist.

History of the 1881 Indian Head Penny

The 1881 Indian Head Penny can be found well-struck and is part of a popular coin series in American coin history. The Indian Head Penny is a replacement for the Flying Eagle Penny. The obverse of this coin there is a female figure wearing a Native American headdress that features the word LIBERTY across the headband. The reverse of the coin features the words “ONE CENT” surrounded by a laurel wreath with a shield at the top. This coin was designed by the Chief Engraver at the Philadelphia Mint, James Barton Longacre. It was believed that he used his daughter as inspiration for the female design, but he said this wasn’t true. Longacre said he was inspired by the Crouching Venus statue that was on loan from the Vatican.