Numismatic

1891 Indian Head Cent XF

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The 1891 Indian Head Cent represents a classic era of United States copper coinage. Struck at the Philadelphia Mint, this coin features a metal composition of 95 percent copper, with the remaining 5 percent consisting of tin and zinc. In Extra Fine condition, the coin retains much of its original detail, allowing observers to appreciate the finer points of its nineteenth-century design. On the obverse, the design by James B. Longacre depicts a profile of Liberty wearing a feathered Native American headdress. The words "UNITED STATES OF AMERICA" encircle the portrait, with the year 1891 positioned at the bottom. This representation of Liberty remains one of the most recognizable and enduring images in American numismatic history. The reverse of the coin is elegant in its simplicity. The words "ONE CENT" are featured prominently in the center, framed by a decorative wreath. This clean design highlights the primary function of the coin while maintaining a balanced, artistic aesthetic that defined the nation's minor coinage during the late 1800s.