{"product_id":"1859-indian-head-cent-first-year-of-issue-laurel-wreath","title":"1859 Indian Head Cent — First Year of Issue — Laurel Wreath","description":"\u003ch3\u003e\u003cspan\u003e1859 Indian Head Cent — First Year of Issue — Laurel Wreath\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eOwn an important piece of early American numismatic history with this \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e1859 Indian Head Cent\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e, the first-year issue of one of the most recognizable and widely collected coin designs in United States history.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThe Indian Head Cent series was produced from 1859 through 1909 and circulated during some of the most transformative decades in American history. Designed by James B. Longacre, the series remains a favorite among collectors of classic United States copper coinage.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThe \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e1859 Indian Head Cent\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e is particularly significant because it introduced the Indian Head design, replacing the short-lived Flying Eagle Cent that had been produced for circulation in 1857 and 1858.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThe obverse features a left-facing portrait of Lady Liberty wearing a Native American-style feathered headdress. The headband is inscribed LIBERTY, while the inscription UNITED STATES OF AMERICA surrounds the portrait. The date 1859 appears beneath.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThe reverse features a simple \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003elaurel wreath surrounding the denomination ONE CENT\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e, tied with a ribbon at the bottom.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThis reverse design is unique to the 1859 issue. Beginning in 1860, the Mint introduced a redesigned reverse featuring an oak wreath and a small shield at the top, making the 1859 Indian Head Cent a distinct one-year design type.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eUnlike later bronze Indian Head Cents, the 1859 issue was struck in a copper-nickel alloy consisting of \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e88% copper and 12% nickel\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e. This composition gives the coin a lighter appearance than the bronze cents introduced in 1864.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThe coin was produced at the \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003ePhiladelphia Mint\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e, which was the only facility striking Indian Head Cents in 1859. No mint mark appears on the coin.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eIssued during the presidency of James Buchanan, the 1859 Indian Head Cent entered circulation just two years before the outbreak of the American Civil War, making it an interesting artifact of the nation's antebellum period.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eWith an original mintage of \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e36,400,000 business strikes\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e, the 1859 Indian Head Cent was produced in substantial quantities, although attractive, problem-free examples remain desirable among collectors.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eIts status as the first year of the series and the only Indian Head Cent featuring the laurel wreath reverse makes it especially appealing to collectors assembling United States type sets.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eWhether collected as part of a complete Indian Head Cent collection, an early American small-cent type set, or a broader collection of 19th-century United States coinage, the 1859 Indian Head Cent offers an appealing combination of historical significance, distinctive design, and collector interest.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003eProduct Details\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003eDenomination:\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e One Cent ($0.01 USD)\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003eYear:\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e 1859\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003eMint:\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e Philadelphia (No Mint Mark)\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003eSeries:\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e Indian Head Cent (1859–1909)\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003eType:\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e Copper-Nickel Indian Head Cent, Laurel Wreath Reverse\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003eOriginal Mintage:\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e 36,400,000 business strikes\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003eComposition:\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e 88% Copper, 12% Nickel\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003eStandard Weight:\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e 4.67 grams\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003eDiameter:\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e 19 mm\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003eDesigner:\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e James B. Longacre\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003eObverse:\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e Left-facing Liberty wearing a feathered headdress\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003eReverse:\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e Laurel wreath surrounding ONE CENT, tied with a ribbon\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003eMint Mark Location:\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e None — Philadelphia issue\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003eEdge:\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e Plain\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003eCondition:\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e See product photographs for the exact coin offered\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003eQuantity:\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e One individual coin\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003ePlease Note:\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e This listing is for one specific 1859 Indian Head Cent. The coin pictured is the exact coin you will receive.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Midwest Coin Exchange","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":67872575586518,"sku":null,"price":18.5,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"url":"https:\/\/www.midwestcoinexchange.com\/products\/1859-indian-head-cent-first-year-of-issue-laurel-wreath","provider":"Midwest Coin Exchange","version":"1.0","type":"link"}