View attachment 1559692 Not sure why these keep uploading in the wrong order. Pic #1 and #3 are the same coin. I inherited a coin collection. I’ve tried to educate myself on U.S. coins, but I’m still pretty ignorant about the subject. I’ve been urged by some members to post what I have… so, here’s the first grouping. Please let me know your thoughts! (Also, for some reason my camera wasn’t capturing the colors correctly. The 1889 Indian head is indeed more silver in color than the other two. Additionally, I apologize for the poor quality photos, if you’d like better photos on a coin please let me know.) Thanks!!!
Indian head cents (IHC) are always fun, and many people have never seen one. The only ones worth big bucks are the 1877, 1908-S and 1909-S. I know I have missed some, but I'm sure I will be corrected
Like many IHC collectors, I am short the 1877 IHC. Even the worn 1877 coins are available, you will end up selling your collection for it (Maybe not.). My collection of coins is at a stalemate. Almost all of my sets need 1 or 2 coins. I've started working on Half Dollars... Walking/Franklin/and Kennedy).
Very nice collection Gina. I have only one...that I know of so far. It's not as nice looking as yours. I've been told by some friends on here to soak it overnight in acetone. Here is mine:
Here are the guild lines for very well worn Indian Cents, which are not damaged. Every date from 1866 to 1878 is a "better date." The 1877 is the top one, but the 1869, 1870, 1871 and 1872 cents are all good. The other dates from the era are less important, but well above average. Among the others, 1894 is better than most of the dates from 1879 to 1909. As mentioned before the 1908-S and 1909-S are semi-key and key dates respectively. Even the common date coins bring good prices if they are Proof (special strike) or Mint State. The chances of Proof and Mint State Indian Cents turning up in a family hoard are remote, but you might find them in a collection of coins put together by someone who was serious about the hobby. Care should be taken in handing these coins, but very small injuries can knock hundreds or thousands off the value of the coins
Here are a few Mint State pieces. The Indian Cents from 1859 (first year) to mid 1864 were made of copper-nickel which is similar to the modern nickel composition. Here is an Mint State example. Bronze Cents were issued from mid 1864 to 1909. The San Francisco Mint made the first cents that were issued from any facility other than Philadelphia, in 1908 and 1909. The "S" mint mark is on the reverse, below the wreath.
Depends on your definition of "big bucks", I guess. The late 1860s and early 1870s go for tens of dollars even in worn condition; that's still "big bucks" to my trained-on-1960s-prices inner child. I'm going through a collection right now that a friend inherited from his father, who apparently really liked Indian-head cents -- there are several hundred of them, along with TWO (2) Lincoln wheat-back cents. Nearly all common dates, mostly heavily worn and/or damaged. I might start a thread about it.
We have two complete IHC sets, one for each granddaughter. Took over five years to complete in VF or better condition. They are worth it.
Nice collection. I upload my photos from my cell phone. The order I click on them is the order in which they show on CT.
The Flying Eagle (1856 pattern, 1857-1858 circulation) and Indian Heads (1859-1864) are 88% Copper, 12% Nickel alloy, and have a whitish copper color. The US Standard Nickel from 1866-date is a 75% Copper, 25% Nickel alloy. It's a silver color and much harder than the cents!
