Numismatic

1864 Indian Head Cent Bronze Good

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The year 1864 marked a significant transition for the United States one-cent coin. This particular issue represents the introduction of a bronze alloy, composed of 95 percent copper alongside a 5 percent mixture of tin and zinc. It replaced the thicker, lighter-colored copper-nickel cents used in the years immediately preceding it, establishing a metal composition that would endure for generations. The obverse of this coin displays a profile of Liberty wearing an stylized Native American feather headdress, surrounded by the legend of the issuing nation and the date 1864 at the bottom. James B. Longacre designed this iconic imagery, which became one of the most recognizable faces of American pocket change during the nineteenth century. On the reverse, the coin features a simple and elegant layout. The words ONE CENT are boldly struck in the center, enclosed by a decorative wreath. This example survives in Good condition, showing the honest wear of a coin that circulated widely during a pivotal era in American history.