Uploaded byDon Fraser
Introduction To Indian Head Cent Collecting
The document provides an introduction to the Indian Head Cent coin series produced by the United States Mint from 1859 to 1909. It discusses the coin's designer, Chief Engraver James Barton Longacre, and notes that the design was based on sketches of a statue rather than Longacre's daughter as was rumored. Key dates in the series include 1864 when the coin transitioned to a legal tender and the first use of an engraver's initial, and 1908 which marked continuous minting of the coin for 50 years.
Introduction To Indian Head Cent Collecting
- 1. Indian Head Cent(1859 – 1909) Introduction to the series
- 2. Series highlights Startedwith a rumor, became a legend? Single year issue One year with 5 distinctions First sub minting of minor coinage 1908 Continuous minting for 50 years
- 3. Chief Engraver JamesBarton Longacre (August 11,1794 – January 1, 1869) 4 th chief engraver of the US Mint designed the Flying Eagle Cent, Two Cent Coin Silver and nickel 3 cent coin One dollar gold coin, $3 gold piece first double eagle And of course Indian Head Cent ! From 1833 - 1839, Longacre and James Herring published The National Portrait Gallery of Distinguished Americans , which presented portraits and biographical sketches "of the most Eminent Citizens of our country."
- 4. Started with arumor Longacre’s used his daughter Sarah as the model for Liberty Myth tells us it is Longacre’s daughter with a child’s Indian Headdress, but the reality is, the profile was taken from sketches he did some ten years earlier of a statue in a Philadelphia museum, called ‘Venus Accroupie.’ ( http://www.bellaonline.com/articles/art25940.asp ) There is a popular rumor about the design of this coin, which states that Mr. Longacre used his daughter as his model for the Indian likeness on the cent. Unfortunately, this information has not been authenticate in United States Mint files. (http://www.treas.gov/education/fact-sheets/currency/indian-head.shtml)
- 5. Compare his portraitcoins 3 cent nickel $1 gold $20 dollar $1 gold $3 gold
- 6. Images of VenusAccroupie 1865 too late
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- 9. 1864 Civil waris nearing an end (1861 – 1865) Money / coins are being hoarded…even the one cent piece! But congress is busy
- 10. Coinage Act of1864 APPROVED, April 22, 1864. SEC. 4. And be it further enacted, That the said coins shall be a legal Such coins to tender in any payment, the one-cent coin to the amount of ten cents, and beJea1te1s:r the two-cent coin to the amount of twenty cents; and it shall be lawful to sums. pay out said coins in exchange for the lawful currency of the United States, (except cents or half cents issued under former acts of congress,) THIRTY-EIGHTH CONGRESS. SESS. I. Cii. 66, 67. 1864. 55
- 11. Fantastic 1864 CentThree distinct varieties Copper – Nickel Bronze Bronze with L First Legal tender cent from US Mint First cent (coin) with engravers initial
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- 16. Collecting grading tipsVF must have all letters of Liberty &lower edge of band Highest points, first wear EF should have separated hair curl and ribbon right here AU should show wear only here, here, and here AU58 should have 4 diamonds, clearly separated hair curls
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