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1 Cent 'Indian Head Cent' with shield
| Issuer | United States Mint |
|---|---|
| Year | 1860-1864 |
| Type | Log in to see details |
| Value | 1 Cent (0.01 USD) |
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| Composition | Log in to see details |
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| Obverse description | Left-facing bust of Liberty depicted as a Native American princess, wearing a feathered headdress inscribed with the word LIBERTY on the headband, with flowing hair and a beaded necklace visible at the truncation. The circular legend UNITED STATES OF AMERICA arcs around the periphery, with the date centered in the lower field. The design was engraved by James B. Longacre and is framed by a toothed border. |
|---|---|
| Obverse script | Log in to see details |
| Obverse lettering | UNITED STATES OF AMERICA 1862 |
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| Additional information |
The shield added to the reverse in 1860 was a direct response to criticism that the original 1859 design lacked patriotic weight — the modification came just as the country was fracturing toward civil war. By 1864, the composition itself was abandoned entirely: wartime copper hoarding and the Superior melting value of the nickel alloy made the coins disappear from circulation almost immediately after issue, a textbook example of Gresham's Law playing out in real time. Congress authorized the switch to a lighter bronze cent that same year.