Whitman Expo
The unprecedented crossover underscores his personal efforts to combat “grade inflation.”
Thank you to our sponsors!
Go check them out!
First year of issue for the Indian Cent Series, which was produced from a composite of copper and nickel. Very popular one-year type coin as a shield was added to the reverse in the following year. Extremely common except for the gem grades that are scarce. The 1859 normally comes with a strong strike and some nice color and luster.
Obverse Description
A portrait bearing the likeness of a Native American in full headdress framed by the words UNITED STATES OF AMERICA around the periphery. The date is centered at the bottom under the portrait.
Reverse Description
The reverse features the denomination ONE CENT in the center surrounded by a wreath with a ribbon at the very bottom center.
Book Reference
1859 Cent Production: Production of the copper-nickel cent had always been a problem for the Mint. In attempting to extend the life of the dies, various design changes were tested in 1858. Both the obverse and reverse were altered to a lower relief, but this was still not satisfactory. The problem was that the head and tail of the eagle were directly opposite the wreath details on the reverse. In an effort to fix this problem, the Mint tried a smaller eagle on patterns, but this was also deemed unsatisfactory. The Indian Head design was also tested in 1858 and was found to be superior to the Flying Eagle. The head was centrally located on the coin and did not interfere with metal flow into the reverse die.
The design is not an American Indian, but “Liberty” in an Indian headdress. The reverse design selected is a plain olive wreath circling the denomination. However, the wreath has long been called laurel in the literature, following a tradition started by Mint Director J.R. Snowden in 1860.
The production of cents this year set a record for all United States coins up until that time. It was surpassed in the Indian Head cent series up to 1880 only by the 1863 issue.
Survivability: Given the high mintage, these have survived in reasonable quantities. The issue circulated for only three years before being pulled out of circulation during the Civil War coinage crisis. In 1863 they reappeared and circulated in quantity for ten more years before the wholesale withdrawal and melting of most copper-nickel cents in the 1870’s. By the 1890’s they were rare in circulation. Merchants who thought them a nuisance due to their greater thickness over the bronze cents had constantly removed them and returned them to the banks.
Examples are plentiful in grades Very Fine and below. Mint State examples are also widely available, but are premium priced due to type set collector demand.
Collecting Challenges: This date is easily found, but premium priced. Collectors should choose examples with exceptional strikes: full feather tips and sharp diamond detail on the lower ribbon. Many coins are of a later die state with mushy details. While later-die-state coins may not be unattractive, a sharp early-die-state coin is worthy of a premium.
Collecting Circulated Pieces: The optimal collecting grade for circulated coins is EF-40. These are easily found in most grades. Sharp strikes and crisp details are preferred but diffcult to find.
Collecting Mint State Pieces: The optimal collecting grade for Mint State coins is MS-64. These can be found easily in moderate grades, but high-quality coins with crisp details are very hard to locate. Cherrypicking for quality is important for this date, since the prices are usually a bit more advanced than those of other dates of similar rarity, due to the type collector pressure.
Collecting Proof Issues: As a one-year design, it is under heavy demand. All are quite expensive for their rarity. Most are attractive, with cameo examples occasionally available. About 25% of gems show some cameo contrast. The recommended grade is PF-64 or PF-65. Collectors are advised to keep an eye out for coins with exceptional visual appeal.
VARIETIES:
The Snow-1 has a full bold repunched date, and is a very rare and hotly contested variety. An MS-65 example sold for more than $12,000 at auction in 2001. Five other less-prominent repunched date varieties are known and bring moderate premiums.1859, Repunched Date, Snow-1
Catalog Information
GSID:
1289
Designer:
James B. Longacre
Obverse Designer:
James B. Longacre
Obverse Lettering:
UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, 1859
Reverse Designer:
James B. Longacre
Reverse Lettering:
ONE CENT
Weight (gr):
4.67 gr
Weight (oz):
0.165 oz
Strike Type:
Business
Diameter:
19
Coin Shape:
Round
Edge:
Plain
Coin Date:
1859
Denomination:
1c
Designation:
MS
Mint Location:
Philadelphia
Mintage:
36,400,000
Coinage Type:
Indian Head Cent
Coinage Years:
1859
Composition:
0.880 Copper; 0.120 Nickel
PCGS #:
2052
Send Catalog Feedback
To: editor@greysheet.com
Subject: I would like to contribute catalog info to CDN for 1859 1c MS
Body: Referring page: http://dev.greysheet.com/prices/item/1859-united-states-indian-cent/gsid/1289 GSID: 1289 Title: 1859 1c MS
Subscribe to View
View more data, info, and visualizations. Get access to retail and wholesale pricing as well as auction data.
Coin Value History
1859 1c MS
Value By Grade
1859 1c MS
CPG (retail) values
Currency
Grade Range
Grading Authority
Sort by
Pricing
Values
Greysheet & CPG® Values
| Grade | CAC | CPG Value (Retail) | Greysheet Price (Wholesale) |
|---|---|---|---|
| MS67 |
|
$30,000 | $1,234 |
| MS67 | - | $24,000 | $1,234 |
| MS66 |
|
$1,234 | $1,234 |
| MS66 | - | $1,234 | $1,234 |
| MS65 |
|
$1,234 | $1,234 |
| MS65 | - | $1,234 | $1,234 |
| MS64 |
|
$1,234 | $1,234 |
| MS64 | - | $1,234 | $1,234 |
| MS63 |
|
$1,234 | $1,234 |
| MS63 | - | $1,234 | $1,234 |
| MS62 |
|
$1,234 | $1,234 |
| MS62 | - | $1,234 | $1,234 |
| MS61 |
|
$1,234 | $1,234 |
| MS61 | - | $1,234 | $1,234 |
| MS60 |
|
$1,234 | $1,234 |
| MS60 | - | $1,234 | $1,234 |
| AU58 |
|
$1,234 | $1,234 |
| AU58 | - | $1,234 | $1,234 |
| AU55 |
|
$1,234 | $1,234 |
| AU55 | - | $1,234 | $1,234 |
| AU53 |
|
$1,234 | $1,234 |
| AU53 | - | $1,234 | $1,234 |
| AU50 |
|
$1,234 | $1,234 |
| AU50 | - | $1,234 | $1,234 |
| XF45 |
|
$1,234 | $1,234 |
| XF45 | - | $1,234 | $1,234 |
| XF40 |
|
$1,234 | $1,234 |
| XF40 | - | $1,234 | $1,234 |
| VF35 |
|
$1,234 | $1,234 |
| VF35 | - | $1,234 | $1,234 |
| VF30 |
|
$1,234 | $1,234 |
| VF30 | - | $1,234 | $1,234 |
| VF25 |
|
$1,234 | $1,234 |
| VF25 | - | $1,234 | $1,234 |
| VF20 |
|
$1,234 | $1,234 |
| VF20 | - | $1,234 | $1,234 |
| F15 |
|
$1,234 | $1,234 |
| F15 | - | $1,234 | $1,234 |
| F12 |
|
$1,234 | $1,234 |
| F12 | - | $1,234 | $1,234 |
| VG10 |
|
$1,234 | $1,234 |
| VG10 | - | $1,234 | $1,234 |
| VG8 |
|
$1,234 | $1,234 |
| VG8 | - | $1,234 | $1,234 |
| G6 |
|
$1,234 | $1,234 |
| G6 | - | $1,234 | $1,234 |
| G4 |
|
$1,234 | $1,234 |
| G4 | - | $1,234 | $1,234 |
| AG3 |
|
$1,234 | $1,234 |
| AG3 | - | $1,234 | $1,234 |
Indian Head Cent 1c 1859, Reverse of 1858 MS [Type]
![Indian Head Cent 1c 1859, Reverse of 1858 MS [Type]](https://images.greysheet.com/ctc/catalog/Indian-Cent.jpg?MaxWidth=200&Mode=Pad&Scale=UpscaleCanvas&format=webp)
Worth: $5 – $25,000
Indian Head Cent 1c Copper Nickel, 1860-1864 MS [Type]
![Indian Head Cent 1c Copper Nickel, 1860-1864 MS [Type]](https://images.greysheet.com/ctc/catalog/1863-obv.jpg?MaxWidth=200&Mode=Pad&Scale=UpscaleCanvas&format=webp)
Worth: $6 – $72,000
1860 1c Round Bust MS
Worth: $6 – $18,000
1860 1c Pointed Bust MS
Worth: $7 – $28,800
1861 1c MS
Worth: $14 – $72,000
1862 1c MS
Worth: $6 – $72,000
1863 1c MS
Worth: $6 – $18,750
1864 1c Copper Nickel MS
Worth: $14 – $20,000
Indian Head Cent 1c Bronze, 1864-1909 MS BN [Type]
![Indian Head Cent 1c Bronze, 1864-1909 MS BN [Type]](https://images.greysheet.com/Ctc/CatalogEntry/auctions_stacksbowers_com_lots_view_3_j4gae-0.20200712022457246.jpg?MaxWidth=200&Mode=Pad&Scale=UpscaleCanvas&format=webp)
Worth: $1 – $1,688
Indian Head Cent 1c Bronze, 1864-1909 MS RB [Type]
![Indian Head Cent 1c Bronze, 1864-1909 MS RB [Type]](https://images.greysheet.com/Ctc/Catalog/20250811/m7z2wm7kefb0wx6umy1d.webp?MaxWidth=200&Mode=Pad&Scale=UpscaleCanvas&format=webp)
Worth: $44 – $2,000
Indian Head Cent 1c Bronze, 1864-1909 MS RD [Type]
![Indian Head Cent 1c Bronze, 1864-1909 MS RD [Type]](https://images.greysheet.com/Ctc/Catalog/20200826/ha_com_131705_30309-0.20200826140250544.jpg?MaxWidth=200&Mode=Pad&Scale=UpscaleCanvas&format=webp)
Worth: $110 – $120,000
1864 1c Bronze MS BN
Worth: $10 – $625
1864 1c Bronze MS RB
Worth: $160 – $11,500
1864 1c Bronze MS RD
Worth: $300 – $18,000
1864 1c L on Ribbon MS BN
Worth: $20 – $5,000
1859 1C XF45 PCGS. CDN: $130 Whsle. Bid for NGC/PCGS XF45. Mintage 36,400,000. ...
$171
1859 1C AU58 PCGS. CDN: $285 Whsle. Bid for NGC/PCGS AU58. Mintage 36,400,000. ...
$390
1859 1C MS61 PCGS. PCGS Population: 40 in 61, 2165 finer (11/25). CDN: $360 Whsle. Bid for NGC/PCGS MS61. Mintage 36,400,00...
$586
1859 1C MS65 PCGS. CDN: $2,150 Whsle. Bid for NGC/PCGS MS65. Mintage 36,400,000. ...
$2,440
1859 1C MS66+ PCGS. CAC. ...
$17,080
1859 1C AU50 NGC. CDN: $165 Whsle. Bid for NGC/PCGS AU50. Mintage 36,400,000. ...
$169
1859 1C MS63 CACG. Mintage 36,400,000....
$840
1859 1C AU53 NGC. CDN: $180 Whsle. Bid for NGC/PCGS AU53. Mintage 36,400,000. ...
$210
1859 1C AU55 PCGS. CDN: $240 Whsle. Bid for NGC/PCGS AU55. Mintage 36,400,000. ...
$266
1859 1C MS64 PCGS. CDN: $1,080 Whsle. Bid for NGC/PCGS MS64. Mintage 36,400,000. ...
$1,320
1859 1C MS62 PCGS. Mintage 36,400,000. ...
$528
1859 1C Indian Cent -- Struck 5% Off Center -- VF20 PCGS. PCGS Population: (28/4074). Mintage 36,400,000....
$408
1859 1C -- Cleaned -- ANACS Details. MS60. Mintage 36,400,000....
$192
1859 1C XF40 PCGS. Mintage 36,400,000. ...
$97
1859 1C -- Corroded -- ANACS Genuine. Mintage 36,400,000....
$104
1859 1C Indian Cent -- Struck-Through Obverse -- VF30 PCGS....
$264
1859 1c PCGS VG-10
$50
1859 1c ANACS VF35 Details (Scratched Cleaned) - No Reserve!
$22
1859 1C VF25 PCGS. PCGS Population (32/2799). NGC Census: (0/23). Mintage: 36,400,000. Numismedia Wsl. Price for problem fr...
$36
ND 1C Indian Cent--Off Center--VG8 ANACS. ...
$184
Greysheet News
Prominent Collector Dell Loy Hansen Submitting His Historical Collection Of U.S. Coins To CAC Grading
8/8/2024
American Numismatic Association's Largest Coin Show, August 6-10 In Chicago
Dazzling rarities, free educational opportunities, family fun and more await at the Donald E. Stephens Convention Center
7/25/2024
United States Mint Unveils Designs For The 2025 United States Marine Corps 250th Anniversary Commemorative Coin Program
The designs will be featured on a $5 gold coin, a $1 silver coin, and a half dollar clad coin.
7/23/2024
Events
Heritage Auctions: US Coins Tuesday & Wednesday Select Auction
Location: Heritage Auctions
Wednesday, July 1, 2026
Heritage Auctions: World & Ancient Coins Wednesday & Thursday Select Auction
Location: Heritage Auctions
Thursday, July 2, 2026
