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1909 Indian Head Cent - San Francisco - Circulated

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Our Price: $599.95

Year: 1909
Mint(s): San Francisco
Composition: Bronze
Diameter: 19 mm
Mintage: 309,000

Stock Status: Available

Product Code: 46970

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The Indian Head Cent is one of America's most famous coin designs that truly symbolizes the "Old West!"

The "Indian Head" design first issued in 1859 is actually a representation of Liberty wearing an Indian headdress, not an actual Native American. The first year features a laurel wreath on the reverse. This was changed after one year to the oath wreath with a small shield. During the Civil War, nearly all gold and silver, and eventually the copper-nickel cent, disappeared from circulation in the Midwest and East. In larger cities, thin, copper, cent-sized tokens began to be issued by merchants to fill the void left by the missing cents. The government stepped in and with the Act of April 22nd, 1864, issued its own thin, bronze cent and made the issuance of merchants' tokens illegal. The obverse was redesigned near the end of 1864. A slightly sharper portrait included the designer's initial L on the lower ribbon behind the neck. This design was continued until 1909, when the design was replaced with the Lincoln cent.

The popularity of the Indian Head Cent design has made it one of our most collected coins. Now, add in how few of these copper classics were ever struck...

Just how scarce?

The U.S. Mint has struck more 2009 Lincoln Cents in the first six months 2009, than the entire last decade of the Indian Cents together!

The obverse features Lady Liberty wearing a feathered headdress, while the reverse shows a laurel oak wreath with a small shield.

This is the 1909 Indian Head Cent in Circulated Condition. It will come encapsulated for its own protection.

This rare and historic coin is scare, so act fast!