Numismatic

1859-1864 Indian Head Cents Copper Nickel Culls

---

During the early years of the American Civil War era, the United States Mint produced a distinctive version of the one cent coin. Issued from 1859 to 1864, these early Indian Head cents stand out from their later bronze counterparts due to their specific metallic composition. They were struck in an alloy consisting of 88 percent copper and 12 percent nickel, giving them a thicker feel and a lighter color than the pure copper coins that preceded them. The design, created by James B. Longacre, features a profile of Liberty on the obverse. Rather than a traditional classical crown, she wears an stylized Native American feather headdress, with the word LIBERTY inscribed upon the band. This imagery became one of the most recognizable icons of nineteenth-century American pocket change. The reverse of the coin keeps the focus on its utility and national identity. It displays the simple denomination of ONE CENT, which is encircled by a decorative wreath. These pieces were struck at the Philadelphia Mint, though they do not bear a mint mark, representing a fascinating transitional period in American numismatic history.