1859 Indian Head Cent Value
The 1859 Indian Head Cent carries a current retail range of about $0.10 to $38.00 across circulated and Mint State grades, and its metal content alone is worth $0.03 as of 2026-06-01 Where your coin lands depends on wear, strike and surface quality.
1859 Indian Head Cent value by grade
| Grade | Estimated value |
|---|---|
| Melt value floor(metal content, 2026-06-01) | $0.03 |
| Good (G-4) | $0.10 to $0.15 |
| Very Good (VG-8) | $0.10 to $0.20 |
| Fine (F-12) | $0.20 to $0.35 |
| Very Fine (VF-20) | $0.40 to $0.70 |
| Extremely Fine (XF-40) | $0.80 to $1.35 |
| About Uncirculated (AU-50) | $1.60 to $2.70 |
| Mint State (MS-60) | $3.20 to $5.40 |
| Choice Unc (MS-63) | $7.20 to $12.00 |
| Gem Unc (MS-65) | $22.50 to $38.00 |
Estimated retail range, updated 2026-06-15. Estimates are modeled from mintage rarity and metal content, not auction records. Actual sale prices vary with certification, eye appeal and market timing.
What is the 1859 Indian Head Cent selling for today?
In worn but collectible condition (Good-4), a 1859 Indian Head Cent starts around $0.10. From there, value climbs with every grade step: a gem Mint State example (MS-65) can reach $38.00. Most coins found in old collections fall somewhere between Very Fine and About Uncirculated, the middle rows of the table above.
1859 Indian Head Cent specifications
- Series
- Indian Head Cent
- Year
- 1859
- Mint mark
- None (Philadelphia)
- Mintage
- Not recorded
- Composition
- Copper-nickel (1859-1864), then 95% copper bronze
- Weight
- 3.11 g
- Diameter
- 19.05 mm
- Edge
- Plain
- Designer
- James Barton Longacre
The missing mint mark, explained
Look for a letter and you will not find one. The 1859 Indian Head Cent is a Philadelphia product, and the main mint did not sign its work at this time. On branch-mint examples the mark sits on the reverse, below the wreath (only 1908-S and 1909-S carry a mint mark).
What makes the 1859 Indian Head Cent valuable
Official mintage figures for the 1859 Indian Head Cent are not well established. The museum-documented specimens behind our specifications provide the physical reference points for the issue, and the market prices it on observed scarcity.
Context adds the final layer to the 1859 Indian Head Cent. James Longacre's Indian Head cent served America for fifty years, from the eve of the Civil War to the dawn of the Lincoln cent. Owning this date means owning a piece of that story, and demand for the series as a whole sustains liquidity for every issue in it.
1859 Indian Head Cent inscriptions & design
Obverse
UNITED STATED OF AMERICA
Liberty head with Indian head dress, facing left
Reverse
none
"ONE CENT" within wreath
Measured 1859 Indian Head Cent specimens
1 physically measured 1859 Indian Head Cent example in our reference database. Real measured weights and die axes let you authenticate a coin against the 3.11 g, 19.05 mm minting standard.
| Specimen | Weight | Diameter | Die axis | References |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1859 Indian Head Cent #1 | 2.903 g | - | - | - |
Specifications compiled from documented museum specimens. See our data & methodology page.
Summary: the 1859 Indian Head Cent is valued between $0.10 and $38.00 as of 2026-06-15. Estimates combine mintage rarity, key-date status and metal content; they are editorial guidance, not an offer to buy.