Numismatic

1876 Indian Head Cent VG

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The 1876 Indian Head Cent represents a fascinating chapter in United States coinage. Struck in Philadelphia during a transitional era of American history, this copper coin is composed of 95 percent copper, with the remaining five percent made of tin and zinc. It carries a Very Good grade, showing the honest wear of a coin that likely circulated widely in the late nineteenth century. Designed by James B. Longacre, the obverse features a depiction of Liberty wearing a traditional Native American feather headdress, surrounded by the legend UNITED STATES OF AMERICA and the date 1876 at the bottom. The reverse is elegantly simple, showcasing the words ONE CENT nestled inside a protective wreath. This combination of classical allegory and natural imagery makes the Indian Head Cent series one of the most recognizable and beloved designs in the history of American currency.