1909 Indian Head Cent Value
A 1909 Indian Head Cent is worth roughly $0.10 to $38.00 depending on its condition. Its intrinsic melt value stands at $0.03 based on spot prices from 2026-06-01 Exceptional, certified pieces regularly exceed the top of that range.
1909 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.
How much is a 1909 Indian Head Cent worth today?
Start with $0.10 for a heavily circulated 1909 Indian Head Cent and work upward. Lightly circulated 1909 examples occupy the middle of the range, while true gems approach $38.00. If your coin has no wear on the high points, it deserves a closer look or a professional opinion.
1909 Indian Head Cent specifications
- Series
- Indian Head Cent
- Year
- 1909
- Mint mark
- None (Philadelphia)
- Mintage
- 14,368,470
- Composition
- Copper-nickel (1859-1864), then 95% copper bronze
- Weight
- 3.11 g
- Diameter
- 19.05 mm
- Edge
- Plain
- Designer
- James Barton Longacre
Mintage figure: US Mint reports (approximate).
Why this coin has no mint mark
The 1909 Indian Head Cent was struck at the Philadelphia Mint, which used no mint mark in this era. If you find no letter where branch-mint coins carry one (On the reverse, below the wreath (only 1908-S and 1909-S carry a mint mark)), you are holding a Philadelphia issue.
What makes the 1909 Indian Head Cent valuable
With 14,368,470 struck, the 1909 Indian Head Cent is one of the more available dates of its series. Its value rests on metal content and condition rather than absolute rarity, which makes it an ideal type coin.
There is history in a 1909 Indian Head Cent as well. Early copper-nickel issues of 1859-1864 are thicker and paler, collectors call them 'white cents', before wartime hoarding pushed the Mint to a slimmer bronze planchet in 1864. That backdrop keeps the series among the most actively collected in American numismatics.
Summary: the 1909 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.