The 1896 Indian Head pennies have value as numismatic coins. Keep reading to learn more about these one cent coins.
Specifications
Pictured is an uncirculated Indian penny, an example without any wear. A coin that never entered circulation and has remained untouched since minting. All of the small fine details are still visible. In the market place this 1897 Indian head penny value is. Tell me about the 1896 Indian Head Cent, please. Discussion in 'US Coins Forum' started by LAGeezer, Mar 28, 2018. Page 1 of 2 1 2 Next LAGeezer Well-Known Member.
Type: Indian Head Penny
Year: 1896
Face Value: $0.01
Composition: 95% copper, 5% tin and zinc
Total Weight: 3.11 grams
There is no mint mark on this coin. Each coin was minted in Philadelphia.
| Series | Location | Quantity Minted |
|---|---|---|
| 1896 | Philadelphia | 39,055,431 |
| 1896 Proof | Philadelphia | 1,862 |
Value
The 1896 Indian Head penny is worth around $3 in good condition. In very fine condition the value is around $8. In extremely fine condition the value is around $15. In uncirculated condition the price is around $45 for coins with an MS 60 grade. Uncirculated coins with a grade of MS 63 can sell for around $65.
The 1896 Indian Head proof penny is worth around $150 in PR 63 condition.
Grading System
Good- The word 'LIBERTY' inscribed on Liberty's headband is not visible.
Very fine- The word 'LIBERTY' inscribed on Liberty's headband is visible but there is slight wear.
Extremely fine- The word 'LIBERTY' inscribed on Liberty's headband is sharp. The other details on the coin are also sharp. There is slight wear on the end of the ribbon.
MS 60 uncirculated- There are no signs of wear. The coin has luster, but there may be a few stains, abrasions, or surface marks.
MS 63 choice uncirculated- In the major focal areas there are some blemishes or contact marks. The coin's luster might not be as prominent.
PR 63 proof- This coin has reflective surfaces and only a few blemishes away from the major focal points. There are no major flaws.
Sources:
The Red Book
Indian Head Pennies Values Chart
See also:
1897 Indian Head Penny
1895 Indian Head Penny
1894 Indian Head Penny
Indian Head Penny Overview
As the first long-running small cent, the Indian Head penny paved the way for the cent pieces we know and use every day.
First minted in 1859, the Indian Head penny was an attempted correction to the failed Flying Eagle cent that had been in use for the last three years. James B. Longacre, the designer of both coins, created a design that both fixed the strike issues of the previous cent and forged a long-lasting numismatic legacy.
The obverse features a profile bust portrait that is not actually an “Indian Head” but rather Lady Liberty wearing a Native American feather headdress. She is flanked on either side by the legend “UNITED STATES OF AMERICA,” and below her is the year of mintage.
The reverse design had two iterations. The first was a one-year-only type used in 1859 and had a laurel wreath surrounding the denomination “ONE CENT.” In 1860 the wreath changed to oak, and a shield and a bundle of arrows was added.
The composition also had two versions. The first type was a copper-nickel composition that consisted of 88% copper and 12% nickel and was used from 1859 to 1864. These coins had a mass of 4.67 grams.
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As the value of nickel was high at the time, this first type was being hoarded en masse, so in 1864 the Mint introduced a bronze composite composition of 95% copper and 5% tin and zinc with a mass of 3.11 grams.
The bronze composition was used until the coin was terminated in 1909 to make way for Victor David Brenner’s ever-popular Wheat penny, the first Lincoln cent.
History of the 1896 Indian Head Penny
1896 Indian Head Penny Worth Today
Much like the previous year’s issue, the 1896 Indian Head penny received a healthy mintage in the wake of the economic recession brought on by the Panic of 1893.
A total of 39,055,431 cent pieces were struck this year. They were produced exclusively at Philadelphia, as is the case for any pre-1907 Indian Head penny, so you will not find a mint mark on this coin.
Thanks to its high mintage, this issue remains somewhat common in all but the highest gem grades. Thus, any collector interested in this piece should have little to no trouble getting a hold of a specimen in nice condition.
This also means that the value for this issue is rather low in most cases, and although several varieties are available from this year, none of them are in particularly high demand or command higher values.
One factor that can add value to your 1896 Indian Head penny, however, is its color. This issue is made of the bronze composite, and coins that contain such a high amount of copper tend to tone as they age.
The least valuable color tone is Brown, followed by Red-Brown and Full Red. Red-Brown and Full Red Indian Head pennies often claim much higher prices than their Brown counterparts.
The picture below of a group of Lincoln cents gives a good idea of what the different color stratifications will look like on a given coin, although it is certainly not a substitution for a professional authentication.
Valuing the 1896 Indian Head Penny
Despite its commonality, the 1896 Indian Head penny can be quite valuable in very high grades, especially if it displays a nice reddish tone.
Good-4 and Very-8 grades are worth between $2 and $4, and Fine-12 coins are worth $5.15. Very Fine-20 coins are valued at $8.25, and Extremely Fine-40 coins may bring $15. Most 1896 Indian Head pennies will fall somewhere in this range.
The value increases to $25 in About Uncirculated-50, $41 in Uncirculated MS-60, $67 in MS-63, and $165 in MS-65. Average proof strikes are worth $153.
If the piece has a Red-Brown color, the values will be higher. Red-Brown examples may bring $45 for MS-60, $85 for MS-63, $320 for MS-65, and $550 for MS-66.
Full Red specimens are hard to find, but they are worth the hunt, as their values see dramatic increases over the other two colors.
MS-60 examples are valued at a modest $50, but the values increase quickly to $130 in MS-63, $1,750 in MS-65, $5,000 in MS-66, and an astonishing $26,500 in MS-67!
If your 1896 Indian Head penny displays either Red-Brown or Full Red color, it may be worth your time to have it authenticated by a coin-grading service like NGC or PCGS, especially if you intend on selling it.