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The 1887 Indian Cent is a common issue in the Indian Cent Series. Circulated coins are extremely common and accessible. In order for uncirculated coins to be scarce and valuable there must be some, if not total, red coloring. The finest red gems can be very rare.
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
1887 Cent Production: Planchets this year and 1888 were supplied by Joseph Wharton’s firm. With full-time production restored, the mintage for the year rivaled the record levels of the early 1880’s.
Survivability: Cents of 1887 circulated widely and are usually found in medium circulated grades. They are more readily available than dates with similar mintages in the earlier 1880’s. Perhaps as more and more cents were struck there was less reason to constantly empty the “penny jar.” Regardless of the reason, many more of these laterdate cents have survived.
Collecting Challenges: Search out problem-free examples. These tend to be well struck, but many were struck from later-die-state dies. These will be mushy with wavy fields. Die state is not typically a factor in setting the price of a coin, so searching for early-die-state pieces should only cost you extra time.
Collecting Circulated Pieces: The optimal collecting grade for circulated coins is AU-50. Select problem-free examples with original chocolate-brown color.
Collecting Mint State Pieces: The optimal collecting grade for Mint State coins is MS-65RB or MS-64RD, which are generally priced similarly. Avoid coins with blotchy or strange toning. Search for full strikes and early die states. Full gems in both redbrown and red are scarce. Full red coins sometimes have a pale tan-golden color (as do some 1886 pieces).
Collecting Proof Issues: The mintage dipped slightly this year, but this does little to change the rarity rating compared to other dates in the 1880’s. Many 1887 cents are found with pale tan-golden planchets. Many others have toned to brown, sometimes with vivid iridescent blue toning, which is worth a significant premium. Perhaps many of the issue were left over at the end of the year and were purchased by dealers such as David Proskey, who had been accumulating leftover minor Proof coinage for later sale. Due to all these factors this date is diffcult to find graded full red. Sometimes these are found singly struck, which may hinder the resulting coins from reaching the higher grades. This is one of the toughest dates for collectors of PF-65RD coins. Examples with cameo contrast are exceedingly rare.
VARIETIES:
The Snow-1 doubled die is one of the top ten varieties of the series. This variety has significant doubling on the right obverse. The doubling is mostly on the central veins of the feathers and OF AMERICA.
Snow-1
Catalog Information
GSID:
1377
Designer:
James B. Longacre
Obverse Designer:
James B. Longacre
Obverse Lettering:
UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, 1887
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
Coin Date:
1887
Denomination:
1c
Designation:
MS
Mint Location:
Philadelphia
Mintage:
45,223,523
Coinage Type:
Indian Head Cent
Coinage Years:
1864-1909
Composition:
95% copper; 5% zinc & tin
PCGS #:
2157
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Subject: I would like to contribute catalog info to CDN for 1887 1c MS BN
Body: Referring page: http://dev.greysheet.com/prices/item/1887-united-states-indian-cent-brown-surfaces/gsid/1377 GSID: 1377 Title: 1887 1c MS BN
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Coin Value History
1887 1c MS BN
Value By Grade
1887 1c 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 |
|
$1,200 | $1,234 |
| MS66 | - | $950.00 | $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 Copper Nickel, 1860-1864 MS [Type]
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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
1887 1C Indian Cent -- Triple Struck, Second Strike Rotated in Collar, Third Strike 95% Off Center -- Good 6 PCGS....
$750
1887 1C MS63 Brown PCGS. Mintage 45,226,483. ...
$134
1887 1C MS62 Brown PCGS. PCGS Population: (76/258). Mintage 45,226,483. ...
$104
1887 1C MS64 Brown PCGS. Mintage 45,226,483. ...
$125
1887 1C Misplaced Date, MPD-002 -- Cleaned -- ANACS. Unc Details, Net MS60. Mintage 45,226,483.Flynn Reference and Cr...
$46
1887 1C Doubled Die Obverse, DDO-001, FS-101, XF40 ANACS. Mintage 45,226,483.Flynn Reference and Cross Reference: D...
$228
1887 1C Doubled Die Obverse, DDO-001, FS-101, Snow-1, Good 4 ANACS. Mintage 45,226,483.Flynn Reference and Cross Refe...
$51
1C 1887 STRUCK 30% O/C. REV. INDENT. PCGS MS61 BN
$529
1887 1c NGC MS66 BN
$975
1887 1C Indian Cent -- Quadruple Struck -- AU58 NGC. ...
$2,640
1887 1c PCGS XF45
$51
1887 1C Doubled Die Obverse, Snow-1, FS-101, Fine 15 PCGS. (FS-009.5). PCGS Population: (3/45). NGC Census: (1/25)....
$109
1887 1C MS65 Brown PCGS. PCGS Population: (11/2). NGC Census: (23/3). CDN: $235 Whsle. Bid for problem-free NGC/PCGS MS65. ...
$312
1887 1C Indian Cent -- Struck 15% Off Center -- AU50 PCGS. ...
$264
1887 1C Indian Cent -- Doublestruck, 2nd strike 85% Off Center -- AU53 NGC. ...
$660
1887 1C Die Doubled Obverse, FS-101 VF30 PCGS. CAC. (FS-009.5). PCGS Population: (3/25). NGC Census: (1/16)....
$235
1887 1C Die Doubled Obverse, FS-101 S1 VF35 PCGS. (FS-009.5). PCGS Population (4/20). NGC Census: (0/0)....
$235
1887 1C AU55 PCGS. PCGS Population (16/169). NGC Census: (8/214). Mintage: 45,226,484. Numismedia Wsl. Price for problem fr...
$30
1887 1C Indian Cent--Off-Center--VG8 ANACS....
$98
1887 1C Indian Cent--Struck 22% Off Center--Fine 12 PCGS. This glossy Indian Cent is struck prominently off center toward 1...
$253
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