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At just over 10 million, the 1861 boasts the smallest mintage among the Copper-Nickel Indian Cents making it the most rare in circulated grades. Gems are scarce and the finest ones are extremely rare. The 1861 normally comes with a strong strike and most notably the date displays fantastic 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 bears the denomination of ONE CENT in the center surrounded by a wreath bearing a ribbon with arrows tied in at the bottom center.
Book Reference
1861 Cent Production: The 1861 cent had the lowest mintage of the copper-nickel series. It commands a higher premium over other dates because of this reported mintage, not actual scarcity, as these were widely saved during the Civil War coinage crisis. By 1860, the record production of copper-nickel cents had all but flooded commercial channels. The Mint produced the coins this year solely to replace old copper cents that were redeemed.
Survivability: The entire issue was essentially withdrawn from circulation in the summer of 1862. After the war, these circulated for a few more years before being redeemed by the Mint during the 1870’s. Many high-grade examples are known due to the wartime hoarding.
Collecting Challenges: Collectors of Civil War memorabilia put added demand on the 1861 to 1865 cents. Still, the coins are relatively readily available and affordable. Seek out attractive and problem-free examples.
Collecting Circulated Pieces: The optimal collecting grade for circulated coins is AU-50. Due to the survivability of this issue, Extremely Fine and Very Fine pieces are easily found but are of course typically priced higher than others of the era. The lower production seemed to affect the lowest grades the most, as their scarcity is more in line with the lower mintage. They are available, but at a higher premium.
Collecting Mint State Pieces: Due to the widespread hoarding during the Civil War, high-quality examples are widely available, although at a premium over the other dates.
A group of 15 to 30 pieces of exceptional quality, which came on the market many years ago, has made this one of the more common dates in the copper-nickel series in gem condition. One of these pieces, graded MS-68 by PCGS (still the only MS-68 for the copper-nickel series), sold at auction for $54,625 in January 2003.
Collecting Proof Issues: This is the key date in the Proof series, partly due to low mintage, but also because of poor quality of the dies and poor striking quality. The reverse die in particular had very shallow mirrors. Most have rounded outer edges. Gems with cameo contrast are nearly impossible to locate.
Most of the original mintage of 1,000 pieces remained unsold and might have been destroyed, or were simply released into circulation. It may be that only a few hundred pieces survived.
VARIETIES:
There are only a few minor varieties of this year. On a few dies produced from a defective hub, the tops of the letters ES in STATES show some deterioration which progresses throughout the series until the design is reworked to the 1864 With L style. Some advanced collectors attempt to collect these for every year.
Catalog Information
GSID:
1292
Designer:
James B. Longacre
Obverse Designer:
James B. Longacre
Obverse Lettering:
UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, 1861
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:
1861
Denomination:
1c
Designation:
MS
Mint Location:
Philadelphia
Mintage:
10,100,000
Coinage Type:
Indian Head Cent
Coinage Years:
1860-1864
Composition:
0.880 Copper; 0.120 Nickel
PCGS #:
2061
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Body: Referring page: http://dev.greysheet.com/prices/item/1861-united-states-indian-cent/gsid/1292 GSID: 1292 Title: 1861 1c MS
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Coin Value History
1861 1c MS
Value By Grade
1861 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) |
|---|---|---|---|
| MS68 |
|
$86,500 | $1,234 |
| MS68 | - | $72,000 | $1,234 |
| MS67 |
|
$1,234 | $1,234 |
| MS67 | - | $1,234 | $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 |
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Indian Head Cent 1c Bronze, 1864-1909 MS RD [Type]
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Worth: $10 – $625
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Worth: $160 – $11,500
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Worth: $300 – $18,000
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Worth: $20 – $5,000
1861 1C AU53 PCGS. PCGS Population: 66 in 53, 1827 finer (1/26). CDN: $122 Whsle. Bid for NGC/PCGS AU53. Mintage 10,100,00...
$171
1861 1C MS64 PCGS. CDN: $575 Whsle. Bid for NGC/PCGS MS64. Mintage 10,100,000. ...
$780
1861 1C MS63 PCGS. CDN: $390 Whsle. Bid for NGC/PCGS MS63. Mintage 10,100,000. ...
$528
1861 1C AU55 NGC. CDN: $130 Whsle. Bid for NGC/PCGS AU55. Mintage 10,100,000. ...
$139
1861 1C XF45 PCGS. Mintage 10,100,000. ...
$94
1861 1C MS62 NGC. Mintage 10,100,000. ...
$288
1861 PCGS MS-65
$1,003
1861 1C MS66 PCGS. CAC....
$4,200
1861 1C MS67 PCGS. CAC....
$15,600
1861 1C Repunched Date MS60 ANACS. FS-006.45. Mintage 10,100,000....
$312
1861 1C XF40 PCGS. PCGS Population: (70/2009). Mintage 10,100,000. ...
$81
1861 1C AU58 NGC. NGC Census: (116/909). PCGS Population: (182/1414). CDN: $140 Whsle. Bid for NGC/PCGS AU58. Mintage 10,10...
$159
1861 1C MS61 ANACS. Mintage 10,100,000. ...
$164
1861 1C AU50 PCGS. PCGS Population: (70/1717). NGC Census: (32/1066). CDN: $120 Whsle. Bid for NGC/PCGS AU50. Mintage 10,10...
$174
1861 1C MS68 NGC. ...
$30,000
1861 1c PCGS VG-08
$38
1861 1C VF30 NGC. Ex: Stack's W 57th St Collection. NGC Census: (40/1159). PCGS Population: (17/1888). CDN: $55 Whsle. Bid ...
$51
1861 1c NGC VF25
$45
1861 1c NGC VF20
$43
1861 1C VF35 PCGS. PCGS Population (9/1264). NGC Census: (8/1666). Mintage: 10,100,000. Numismedia Wsl. Price for problem f...
$66
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