Numismatic

1891 Indian Head Cent BU

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The 1891 Indian Head Cent offers a captivating glimpse into late nineteenth-century American coinage. Struck in a metal composition of 95 percent copper, with the remaining 5 percent consisting of tin and zinc, this particular coin survives in Brilliant Uncirculated condition. Its preservation allows observers to appreciate the original luster and sharp details of a design that circulated widely during a period of rapid national growth. Designed by James B. Longacre, the obverse of the coin features a profile of Liberty. Rather than wearing a traditional classical cap, she is depicted wearing a feathered Native American headdress, with the word LIBERTY clearly inscribed across the band. Surrounding this central figure is the legend UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, alongside the year of mintage, 1891, positioned at the bottom of the frame. On the reverse, the coin displays a simple yet elegant layout. The denomination ONE CENT is boldly struck in the center, framed entirely by a decorative wreath. This classic combination of the crowned Liberty and the wreath on the reverse represents one of the most recognizable and enduring series in the history of United States minor coinage.