1909 Indian Head Cent NGC VF Details Cleaned Very Fine Last Year AC460

Description

Coin
Indian Head Cent
Year
1909
Mint
Philadelphia
Graded
Yes
Certified By
NGC
Grade
VF Details
Notes
Cleaned
Indian Head Cents (1859-1909)
Variety 1 - Laurel Wreath (1859)
During the first year of the Indian Cent, the small cent was struck on the same copper-nickel planchets for the previous small cent ? the flying eagle cent. Designed by James Longacre, this one year issue used a laurel wreath reverse motif. The type is heavily sought after by collectors and examples demand premiums in all grades despite the high mintage figure of 36,400,000.
Variety 2 - Oak Wreath (1860-1864)
After the initial year, the reverse of the Indian Cent was changed to an oak wreath with shield design. These were produced until the Civil War forced a change in composition. The Indian motif, designed by John Longacre, was actually Lady Liberty in an Indian headdress. The coins weighed 4.67 grams and were struck on plain edge planchets composed of .880 copper and .120 nickel.
Variety 3 - Bronze (1864-1909)
During the Civil War, attrition caused the hoarding of coins struck in gold, silver and copper nickel. This prompted the U.S. Mint to change the composition of the one cent coinage. The remaining years (1864 -1909) the Indian Cent was struck on bronze planchets. This variety was made from planchets of .950 copper and .050 tin and zinc. The diameter of 19mm is the same as previous small cents. The design was from John Longacre's Indian motif using the head of Liberty dressed in an Indian Feather headdress.
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