Numismatic

1888 Indian Head Cent Good+

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The 1888 Indian Head Cent represents a classic era of United States minor coinage. Struck in a durable alloy composed of 95 percent copper alongside a 5 percent mixture of tin and zinc, this coin has survived for over a century. It carries a grade of Good, showing the honest wear of a coin that likely circulated widely in daily nineteenth-century commerce. Designed by James B. Longacre, the obverse of the penny features a stylized representation of Liberty. Rather than a traditional classical crown, she wears an Native American feather headdress, with the word LIBERTY inscribed upon the band. The year 1888 is struck clearly at the bottom of the profile. On the reverse, the coin displays its denomination, ONE CENT, boldly positioned in the center. This text is encircled by a detailed wreath, creating a simple yet elegant design that defined the small cent for generations of Americans.