1904 Indian Head Penny
USA Coin Book Estimated Value of 1904 Indian Head Penny is Worth $3.14 in Average Condition and can be Worth $40 to $60 or more in Uncirculated (MS+) Mint Condition. Proof Coins can be Worth $152 or more. Click here to Learn How to use Coin Price Charts. Also, click here to Learn About Grading Coins. 1904 Indian Head Penny (Coin) Brand: 1904 US Indian Head Penny. Price: $6.99 & FREE Shipping: New & Used (5) from $6.99 + FREE Shipping. Additional Product Data.
- Indian Head Pennies
Indian Head pennies followed in the early success of the first small cents, which bore the Flying Eagle design minted from 1856 through 1858. Like the earlier series, Indian Head pennies were designed by James B. Longacre, who served as Chief Engraver of the United States Mint. Longacre served as chief engraver from 1844 until his death in 1869. Among Longacre’s other coin designs is the Shield nickel and the two cent piece, the latter of which in 1864 became the first U.S. coin to bear the motto IN GOD WE TRUST.
Longacre’s famous Indian Head penny is thought by some to bear the portrait of a specific member of a Native American tribe. In fact, the young woman on the coin is a portrayal of Miss Liberty and bears many Caucasian features. It has long been thought that the design was modeled after Longacre’s daughter, Sarah, who visited her father at the U.S. Mint one day when several Native Americans were in attendance there.
The story goes that a Native American chief placed his traditional headdress on the young girl’s head. Her artist father quickly sketched the image to show to his wife (in an era before photography was widely used), and it was from this sketch that the Indian Head penny design is said to have derived. Other accounts suggest that a statue of Venus exhibited in Philadelphia while on loan from the Vatican may have also been an inspiration for Longacre’s design work on the Indian Head penny.
Whatever the design inspiration for the coin may be, the Indian Head penny is one of the most popular and widely collected U.S. coins from the 19th century. This is so for several reasons. For one, it’s a largely affordable coin with only a few expensive, rare key dates (namely the 1877 and 1909-S counted among those pricier coins); and Indian Head pennies, especially those made since the 1880s, are readily available in the collector market. Also, the series was struck on an annual basis for some 50 years, meaning there are plenty of different issues for the coin collector to pursue.
Though they haven’t been made since 1909, Indian Head pennies are still widely recognizable and are pursued by collectors of all ages, including children. While some people only want a few examples of Indian Head pennies to keep as type pieces or memorabilia, these coins are still largely collected as an entire series. There are plenty of coin folders and coin albums to this day that accommodate an entire collection of Indian Head pennies. Often, Indian Head pennies are collected along with Flying Eagle pennies.
Latest Blog Posts
Latest Blog Posts
- Genuine U.S. coin minted at the Philadelphia Mint in 1904
- Obverse features James Longacre's beautiful Miss Liberty wearing a Native American headdress
- 19 mm in diameter (.75')
- Order number:US_2501096
1904 Indian Head Penny Error
America's first one-cent coins were called Large Cents and were produced from 1793 until 1856. Even though they were official coins, they were not minted in gold or silver, therefore tax collectors and shopkeepers were not bound by law to accept them. In 1856, the law was changed and a new penny that was legal tender for all debts was created using a copper-nickel alloy. The new Flying Eagle Penny was designed by the U.S. Mint's Chief Engraver, James B. Longacre. Unfortunately, it was difficult to strike and, in 1858, Longacre had to redesign the penny. This time, he replaced the eagle with a youthful Lady Liberty wearing an Indian headdress with the word LIBERTY on the band. According to legend, Longacre used his own daughter, Sarah, as the model for the Indian Head Penny.
First minted in 1859, the 'Type 1'- Indian Head Penny had a laurel wreath on the reverse. In 1860, the reverse was changed to an oak wreath with a shield inserted at the top. This coin became known asa 'Type 2' Indian Head Penny.
The chaos of the Civil War led to a serious metal shortage and hoarding,so the Mint changed the composition of the penny from copper-nickel to bronze. The new'Type 3' Indian Head Penny was introduced in 1864 and it would remain unchanged for the rest of its historic run. In 1909, the penny was redesigned in honor of the 100th Anniversary of Abraham Lincoln's birth.
| Details | |
|---|---|
| Limitation: | 61,300,000 |
| Weight: | 3.11 g |
| Material: | .950 copper, .050 tin |
| First issued: | 1904 |
| Issue country: | USA |
| Diameter: | 19 mm |
| Face value: | 1 Cent |
| Material: | Mixed |
| Quality: | fine |
| Period: | 1871 to 1918 |
1904 Indian Head Penny Cost
American Mint Satisfaction Guarantee
By ordering a product at the discounted price, you will have the privilege of receiving future issues in the collection through our FREE in-home approval service. No further action is required on your part. If you do not wish to preview future issues in the collection, please select the Individual Item Only tab above. The American Mint Preferred Collector’s Price is guaranteed for you. You will be billed only for the items you decide to keep. If you pay by credit card, future shipments will not be charged until 25 days after the invoice date. You are under no obligation! If you are not satisfied with any item that is shipped to you, you may send it back within 20 days at our cost for replacement, credit or refund. American Mint has no minimum purchase requirements. You may cancel this service at any time by calling toll-free 1-877-807-MINT.