1879 1c PR RB

1879 Cent Production: The mintage during this period increased significantly. In addition, more than three million redeemed coins were reissued alongside the new coins. Starting this year, the Mint cut back on the production of all coinage except cents, silver dollars, and gold issues. The coinage crisis from the Civil War was over. The paper greenback was now fully redeemable in gold. The massive amounts of silver coinage struck the previous five years, together with large quantities of coins struck between 1853 and 1860, were now available in excessive quantities in commerce. After December 17, 1878, gold coinage circulated for the first time since 1861.

Survivability: 1879 is the first of the semi-common dates in the series. Examples are widely available in all grades, as are all dates from here on, with the exception of the San Francisco Mint coinage at the end of the series.

Collecting Challenges: Coins are readily available with minimal searching. These are typically well struck. Finding attractive coins with minimal problems should be the goal here.

Collecting Circulated Pieces: The optimal collecting grade for circulated coins is AU-50. Problem-free examples can be diffcult to locate, as dealers can find them very easy to sell, leaving only the “second tier” of quality coins to choose from. Waiting for the right coin is advised.

Collecting Mint State Pieces: The optimal collecting grade for Mint State coins is MS-65RB. These are quite easy to locate in all grades. When buying certified coins, select coins with good eye appeal and few problems. Uncertified coins above MS-63 should be carefully inspected for original color.

Collecting Proof Issues: Mintage figures escalated during this period. This issue is the highest-mintage Proof up until this date; this and many of the dates in the next decade are the common dates in the Proof series. Full red gem 1879 Indian Head cents are about as common as any date in the series.

Two of the three known Proof dies show repunching on the date. One of these, with wide repunching on the 8 and 9 to the right, is also found on regular-production coins (Snow-1). It was not unusual for Proof dies of this era to later be put into use for regular-production coins. After a very short time at the regular-production speed the dies lost their mirrored finish and produced coins that look like normal Mint State pieces.

There are three repunched dates known for this date. Snow-1 is struck from dies earlier used on Proof issues.