Numismatic

1878 Indian Head Cent VF

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The 1878 Indian Head Cent represents a classic era of United States copper coinage. Struck at the Philadelphia Mint, this coin is composed of an alloy containing 95 percent copper, with the remaining 5 percent made of tin and zinc. With a total mintage of 5,797,500, surviving examples in Very Fine condition offer a clear look at a design that circulated widely during the late nineteenth century. Designed by James B. Longacre, the obverse features a depiction of Liberty adorned in a Native American feathered headdress. The word LIBERTY is visible on the band of the headdress, surrounded by the inscription UNITED STATES OF AMERICA and the date 1878 at the bottom. This design choice created a highly recognizable silhouette that defined the one-cent denomination for decades. The reverse of the coin displays the denomination ONE CENT placed squarely in the center. This text is encircled by a detailed wreath, with a small shield positioned at the very top. At the base of the wreath, a bundle of arrows is bound together by a ribbon tied in a bow, completing a balanced and symbolic composition.