1897 Indian Head Penny
By 1897, the Indian Head Penny was still being produced in relatively large numbers. The United States was enjoying a strong economy, which created more demand for the one cent coin. Mintage numbers continued to hold steady and the Indian Head cent was the only penny being produced.
Indian Head Cent Design
The Indian Head penny was first introduced in 1859, and decades later, the design hadn’t gone through any major overhauls. The designer, James Barton Longacre, wanted to coin to evoke a sense of America’s emerging identity. He placed the bust of the Goddess Lady Liberty wearing an Indian Chief headdress on one side and adorned the back of the coin with an oak wreath and shield. These references were meant to put somes distance between the new country and its European roots.
Initially, the one cent coin wasn’t widely accepted or regularly used as currency. Over the years, Americans gradually moved away from using gold, European coins and other forms of currency, which helped fuel the popularity of the penny.
How Much is the 1897 Indian Penny Worth?
There are rare Indian Head pennies from early years, but the 1897 version is still readily available to interested collectors. This drives down the value of the coin. However, a certified mint condition coin can go for around $65 while one in average condition is generally worth about $3.
While the 1897 Indian Head penny value isn’t exceptional compared to other years, it is still a highly sought after coin, especially among those looking to collect a complete Indian Head series set.
Type of coin: One Cent
Year: 1897 Indian Head Penny
Mint Mark: Philadelphia
Total mintage: 50,464,392
Metal content: 95% Copper, 5% Tin and Zinc
Face value: One Cent
Weight: 3.11 grams
Edge: Plain
Designer: James Barton Longacre
Diameter: 19 millimeters