1871 Indian Head Penny

I checked my Whitman Red Book Guide Book of Flying Eagle and Indian Head Cents and noticed the following characteristics of the dates for the 1871 and 1874 IHCs:

The numerals in the date of the 1871 IHC were punched into the die on a curve. This matches the pic of the '71 IHC that you posted.

The numerals in the date of the 1874 IHC were punched into the die in a straight line. This matches the date of your coin.

In this era the date was punched into dies by hand so anomalies did occur. But I doubt the workers at the Mint changed the basic style of punching the date - curved or straight - mid-year (not that this was impossible).

The clues point to your coin being dated 1874.

 

Log in or Sign up to hide this ad.

Thanks for your artistic touch, this does make it more clear

I think we finally have an answer Hobo.. thanks for the research. I did double check the curve against the photo and you're right. I also had trouble lining up the two images in PS, and that would explain it.

Thanks to everybody that's helped out.