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The obverse dies were changed in 1886 making 2 separate varieties that are differentiated by the placement of 'America.' These two varieties are worth about the same; but, it is popular knowledge that Variety 2 is slightly more scarce. All the color designations increase gradually from brown to red with all gems being very scarce.
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
1886, Variety 2, Cent Production: It is not known when the Mint produced the new obverse master die by Charles Barber, although it was probably made during the hiatus of cent and nickel production early in the year. If so, then the estimated 15 Variety 2 dies dated 1886 would have struck coins at the same time as older Variety 1 dies when coinage resumed. A larger number of coins from the Variety 2 dies show extreme die wear. Per-between the I and C in AMERICA. haps near the end of the year the Mint chose to stretch the life of the dies rather than make more. Dies used to strike Proofs were also put into service to strike regular issues.
Survivability: There was no special significance placed on the Variety 2 style early on, as it was a relatively minor alteration. It was only after 1954 that collectors started to collect these coins as separate entities. As a result, nearly the entire mintage went into circula-points between the C and A. tion and stayed there until they were well worn. The survival of any examples is based on chance rather than from collector hoards. A roll of 50 coins from the same dies appeared in Superior Galleries’ section of Auction ’81, bringing $30,000. While the appearance of a roll like this greatly altered the relative rarity of this date, it did little to lower the prices. It just made more coins available to collectors.
Collecting Challenges: Quality is quite poor on most of the pieces encountered. Search out pieces struck from an early-die-state die. These will have crisp details and flat fields. Many have been chemically altered by dishonest people seeking to capture the high prices asked for high-grade pieces.
Collecting Circulated Pieces: The optimal collecting grade for circulated coins is EF-40. Select coins with attractive original surfaces. Target this date early on in your collecting, as it will take a while to find an attractive example.
Collecting Mint State Pieces: The optimal collecting grade for Mint State coins is MS-63RB. This is one of the tougher dates in all grades. However, as small groups have come to light its rarity has lessened slightly. It is believed that the 50 pieces that came from the Auction ’81 roll were mostly full red and all from the same die. These were all later-die-state coins, which have a look likened to melted butterscotch. Another group of 32 1886 Variety 2 pieces was found in 1994 in a bottle buried in Connecticut. Later, they were placed in the Bowers & Merena “Boys Town” sale in March 1998 (lots 353 to 363) where they were graded MS-61RB to MS-64RB. Among these pieces, 18 were of the same variety, Snow-7.
Full red gems are still very rare. Prices for MS-64RD and MS-65RD certified coins have climbed to levels seen only for the top three or four dates in the series.
Collecting Proof Issues: The mintage is estimated from the quantity of known survivors. No offcial figures break down the division between the two types. The 1886 Variety 2 Proof is prohibitively rare in full red gem condition. Cameo examples are nearly impossible to find. Most available examples are red-brown or totally brown, sometimes with vivid blue toning. The limited quantity of full red coins is curious. Many original coins exhibit a tan-golden color which grading services may find unusual. Perhaps the majority of remaining Proofs at the end of the year were Variety 2 pieces. If so, they may have been purchased by dealers, as was most of the leftover Proof minor coinage. If this is the case, then these would have sat for extended periods in their Mint wrappers, slowly toning to purple or brown.
Some of the five known die pairs used for Proof production were later used on regular coinage.
VARIETIES:
There are a few minor repunched dates. The Snow variety listings must show the design type as well as the variety number (1886, Variety 2, Snow-3, for example).
Catalog Information
GSID:
1374
Designer:
James B. Longacre
Obverse Designer:
James B. Longacre
Obverse Lettering:
UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, 1886
Reverse Designer:
James B. Longacre
Reverse Lettering:
ONE CENT
Weight (gr):
3.11 gr
Weight (oz):
0.11 oz
Strike Type:
Business
Diameter:
19
Coin Shape:
Round
Edge:
Plain
Variety:
Type 2
Coin Date:
1886
Denomination:
1c
Designation:
MS
Mint Location:
Philadelphia
Mintage:
17,650,000
Coinage Type:
Indian Head Cent
Coinage Years:
1864-1909
Composition:
95% copper; 5% zinc & tin
PCGS #:
92154
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Subject: I would like to contribute catalog info to CDN for 1886 1c Type 2 MS BN
Body: Referring page: http://dev.greysheet.com/prices/item/1886-brown-surfaces-type-2-united-states-indian-cent/gsid/1374 GSID: 1374 Title: 1886 1c Type 2 MS BN
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Coin Value History
1886 1c Type 2 MS BN
Value By Grade
1886 1c Type 2 MS BN
CPG (retail) values
Currency
Grade Range
Grading Authority
Sort by
Pricing
Values
Greysheet & CPG® Values
| Grade | CAC | CPG Value (Retail) | Greysheet Price (Wholesale) |
|---|---|---|---|
| MS66 |
|
$3,100 | $1,234 |
| MS66 | - | $2,500 | $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
1859 1c MS
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
1886 1C Type Two AU55 PCGS. PCGS Population: 61 in 55, 258 finer (1/26). CDN: $210 Whsle. Bid for NGC/PCGS AU55. ...
$256
1886 1C Type Two -- Cleaned -- ANACS Details. Unc. Details, Net AU50. Housed in a small-sized holder....
$180
1886 1C Type Two AU58 PCGS. PCGS Population: (97/157). ...
$264
1886 1C Type Two VF35 PCGS. PCGS Population: (37/516). ...
$74
1886 1C Type Two -- Altered Color -- NCS. Unc Details....
$360
1886 1C Type Two MS64 Brown NGC. Eagle Eye Photo Seal. NGC Census: (40/10)....
$720
(1886-1909) 1C Indian Cent -- Struck 35% Off O/C -- Fine 12 PCGS. PCGS Population: (0/0)....
$204
1886 1C Type Two XF40 PCGS. PCGS Population: (59/437). ...
$134
1886 1C Type Two MS63 Brown NGC. NGC Census: (62/49). ...
$372
1886 1C Type Two XF45 Brown NGC. NGC Census: (52/363). PCGS Population: (57/374). CDN: $165 Whsle. Bid for NGC/PCGS XF45....
$174
1886 1C Type Two MS62 Brown NGC. NGC Census: (75/111). PCGS Population: (38/113). CDN: $315 Whsle. Bid for NGC/PCGS MS62. ...
$408
1886 1C Type Two VF30 PCGS. PCGS Population: (30/513). NGC Census: (14/441). CDN: $88 Whsle. Bid for NGC/PCGS VF30. ...
$71
1886 1C Type Two AU53 PCGS. PCGS Population: (25/285). NGC Census: (25/298). CDN: $205 Whsle. Bid for NGC/PCGS AU53. ...
$228
1886 1C Type Two MS61 Brown NGC. NGC Census: (14/141). PCGS Population: (3/127). CDN: $230 Whsle. Bid for problem-free NGC/...
$180
1886 1C Type Two MS65 Brown PCGS. CAC. ...
$1,175
1886 1C Type Two VF25 NGC. NGC Census: (3/220). PCGS Population (5/209). Numismedia Wsl. Price for problem free NGC/PCGS c...
$40
1886 1C Type Two VG8 PCGS. PCGS Population (2/172). NGC Census: (1/197). Numismedia Wsl. Price for problem free NGC/PCGS c...
$34
1886 1C Type Two--Cleaned--ANACS. XF Details Net VF 20. NGC Census: (1/187). PCGS Population (2/156). Numismedia Wsl. Pric...
$56
$1,035
1886 1C Type Two MS66 Brown NGC. NGC Census: (2/0). PCGS Population (0/0). (#92154)...
$920
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