Indian Head Penny Value: Price Chart by Year 1859–1909

Most Indian Head pennies are worth $2.50 to $12 in worn condition. USA CoinBook (values updated February 2026) lists the common 1900–1908 dates at $2.50 in Good (G4) and $12 in Extremely Fine (XF40), and dates from 1880 to 1899 at $3.62 to $15 in G4. The early copper-nickel coins of 1859–1864 start at $15 to $30. Only the key dates and varieties reach hundreds or thousands of dollars in worn grades: the 1909-S at $376, the 1877 at $666 and the 1888/7 at $2,033, all in G4.

These are retail guide values for genuine, problem-free coins. A dealer buying from you usually pays 60% to 70% of retail (United Patriot Coin), and a cleaned or corroded coin brings less.

Values from USA CoinBook, updated February 2026, U.S. dollars, in Good (G4), Fine (F12), Extremely Fine (XF40) and Uncirculated (MS63):

• 1859 (mintage 36,400,000): $19 G4, $38 F12, $154 XF40, $997 MS63
• 1860 (mintage 20,566,000): $15 G4, $30 F12, $100 XF40, $407 MS63
• 1860 Pointed Bust: $30 G4, $56 F12, $131 XF40, $721 MS63
• 1861 (mintage 10,100,000): $30 G4, $61 F12, $144 XF40, $527 MS63
• 1862 (mintage 28,075,000): $15 G4, $30 F12, $69 XF40, $330 MS63
• 1863 (mintage 49,840,000): $15 G4, $30 F12, $69 XF40, $330 MS63
• 1864 copper-nickel (mintage 13,740,000): $30 G4, $56 F12, $144 XF40, $527 MS63

Same source and grades (USA CoinBook, February 2026). The late 1860s and early 1870s had low mintages, so these dates cost more than later ones even when worn:

• 1864 bronze, no L: $21 G4, $43 F12, $91 XF40, $194 MS63
• 1864 bronze, L on ribbon: $73 G4, $194 F12, $376 XF40, $721 MS63
• 1865 (mintage 35,429,286): $21 G4, $38 F12, $61 XF40, $207 MS63
• 1866 (mintage 9,826,500): $73 G4, $103 F12, $257 XF40, $556 MS63
• 1867 (mintage 9,821,000): $73 G4, $123 F12, $313 XF40, $556 MS63
• 1868 (mintage 10,266,500): $61 G4, $103 F12, $225 XF40, $527 MS63
• 1869 (mintage 6,420,000): $117 G4, $313 F12, $559 XF40, $1,064 MS63
• 1869/9: $175 G4, $584 F12, $1,064 XF40, $2,033 MS63
• 1870 Shallow N (mintage 5,275,000): $103 G4, $265 F12, $556 XF40, $1,064 MS63
• 1870 Bold N: $81 G4, $249 F12, $527 XF40, $929 MS63
• 1871 Shallow N (mintage 3,929,500): $186 G4, $376 F12, $721 XF40, $1,243 MS63
• 1871 Bold N: $112 G4, $281 F12, $612 XF40, $1,064 MS63
• 1872 Shallow N (mintage 4,042,000): $162 G4, $391 F12, $721 XF40, $1,390 MS63
• 1872 Bold N: $154 G4, $313 F12, $639 XF40, $1,243 MS63
• 1873 Closed 3 (mintage 11,676,500 (all 1873)): $34 G4, $81 F12, $225 XF40, $612 MS63
• 1873 Open 3: $34 G4, $81 F12, $225 XF40, $498 MS63
• 1873 Doubled LIBERTY: $344 G4, $997 F12, $3,633 XF40, $15,249 MS63
• 1874 (mintage 14,187,500): $30 G4, $81 F12, $144 XF40, $344 MS63
• 1875 (mintage 13,528,000): $30 G4, $81 F12, $163 XF40, $376 MS63
• 1876 (mintage 7,944,000): $50 G4, $103 F12, $281 XF40, $468 MS63
• 1877 (mintage 852,500): $666 G4, $1,344 F12, $2,768 XF40, $7,812 MS63
• 1878 (mintage 5,799,850): $43 G4, $100 F12, $313 XF40, $498 MS63
• 1879 (mintage 16,228,000): $12 G4, $25 F12, $92 XF40, $207 MS63

Same source and grades (USA CoinBook, February 2026). Mintages rose into the tens of millions, and only the 1888/7 overdate and the 1894 Double Date stand out:

• 1880 (mintage 38,961,000): $6.25 G4, $12 F12, $43 XF40, $154 MS63
• 1881 (mintage 39,208,000): $6.25 G4, $12 F12, $38 XF40, $112 MS63
• 1882 (mintage 38,578,000): $6.25 G4, $12 F12, $38 XF40, $112 MS63
• 1883 (mintage 45,591,500): $6.25 G4, $12 F12, $30 XF40, $112 MS63
• 1884 (mintage 23,257,800): $7.29 G4, $15 F12, $43 XF40, $148 MS63
• 1885 (mintage 11,761,594): $15 G4, $25 F12, $92 XF40, $249 MS63
• 1886 Type 1 (mintage 17,650,000 (both types)): $12 G4, $30 F12, $123 XF40, $344 MS63
• 1886 Type 2: $15 G4, $43 F12, $249 XF40, $666 MS63
• 1887 (mintage 45,223,523): $4.96 G4, $7.29 F12, $30 XF40, $144 MS63
• 1888 (mintage 37,489,832): $4.96 G4, $7.29 F12, $30 XF40, $186 MS63
• 1888/7: $2,033 G4, $5,623 F12, $9,334 XF40, $79,458 MS63
• 1889 (mintage 48,866,025): $3.62 G4, $6.25 F12, $22 XF40, $100 MS63
• 1890 (mintage 57,180,114): $3.62 G4, $6.25 F12, $19 XF40, $100 MS63
• 1891 (mintage 47,070,000): $3.62 G4, $6.25 F12, $19 XF40, $100 MS63
• 1892 (mintage 37,647,087): $3.62 G4, $6.25 F12, $25 XF40, $100 MS63
• 1893 (mintage 46,640,000): $3.62 G4, $6.25 F12, $25 XF40, $100 MS63
• 1894 (mintage 16,749,500): $8.64 G4, $19 F12, $69 XF40, $186 MS63
• 1894 Double Date: $92 G4, $154 F12, $498 XF40, $2,497 MS63
• 1895 (mintage 38,341,574): $3.62 G4, $6.25 F12, $19 XF40, $92 MS63
• 1896 (mintage 39,055,431): $3.62 G4, $6.25 F12, $19 XF40, $92 MS63
• 1897 (mintage 50,464,392): $3.62 G4, $6.25 F12, $19 XF40, $92 MS63
• 1898 (mintage 49,821,284): $3.62 G4, $6.25 F12, $19 XF40, $92 MS63
• 1899 (mintage 53,598,000): $3.62 G4, $6.25 F12, $19 XF40, $92 MS63

Same source and grades (USA CoinBook, February 2026). Every Philadelphia date from 1900 to 1908 is priced the same; the two San Francisco coins are the ones to look for:

• 1900 (mintage 66,831,502): $2.50 G4, $6.25 F12, $12 XF40, $81 MS63
• 1901 (mintage 79,609,158): $2.50 G4, $6.25 F12, $12 XF40, $81 MS63
• 1902 (mintage 87,374,704): $2.50 G4, $6.25 F12, $12 XF40, $81 MS63
• 1903 (mintage 85,092,703): $2.50 G4, $6.25 F12, $12 XF40, $81 MS63
• 1904 (mintage 61,326,198): $2.50 G4, $6.25 F12, $12 XF40, $81 MS63
• 1905 (mintage 80,717,011): $2.50 G4, $6.25 F12, $12 XF40, $81 MS63
• 1906 (mintage 96,020,530): $2.50 G4, $6.25 F12, $12 XF40, $81 MS63
• 1907 (mintage 108,137,143): $2.50 G4, $6.25 F12, $12 XF40, $81 MS63
• 1908 (mintage 32,326,367): $2.50 G4, $6.25 F12, $12 XF40, $81 MS63
• 1908-S (mintage 1,115,000): $123 G4, $163 F12, $249 XF40, $556 MS63
• 1909 (mintage 14,368,470): $12 G4, $21 F12, $30 XF40, $103 MS63
• 1909-S (mintage 309,000): $376 G4, $527 F12, $721 XF40, $1,599 MS63

Ranked by the USA CoinBook MS63 value (February 2026), with the worn G4 value for comparison:

• 1888/7: $79,458 MS63, $2,033 G4
• 1873 Doubled LIBERTY: $15,249 MS63, $344 G4
• 1877: $7,812 MS63, $666 G4
• 1894 Double Date: $2,497 MS63, $92 G4
• 1869/9: $2,033 MS63, $175 G4
• 1909-S: $1,599 MS63, $376 G4
• 1872 Shallow N: $1,390 MS63, $162 G4
• 1871 Shallow N and 1872 Bold N: $1,243 MS63
• 1869, 1870 Shallow N and 1871 Bold N: $1,064 MS63
• 1859: $997 MS63, $19 G4

Record auction prices are much higher and come from exceptional coins. CoinValueChecker lists, among others: 1877 PCGS MS66 Red, $149,500 (Heritage, 2007); 1909-S PCGS MS67 Red, $97,750 (Heritage, 2006); 1888/7 PCGS MS63 Brown, $74,750 (Heritage, 2007). Wikipedia gives the series record as a proof 1864 L, one of an estimated 20 struck, sold for $161,000 in 2012.

• Date first. Anything dated 1859–1879, plus 1908-S and 1909-S, is worth more than face even when worn. From 1880 to 1908 (without an S), value depends on condition and varieties.
• Check for an S below the wreath on the back. Only 1908 and 1909 have it.
• Look for the varieties. A second digit under the date (1869/9, 1888/7, 1894), doubled LIBERTY on an 1873, the L on the ribbon on an 1864 bronze cent.
• Judge the condition honestly. The same 1902 is $2.50 in G4 and $81 in MS63 (USA CoinBook), and six figures only in MS68.
• Color counts on unworn coins. Original red color (Red, or RD, on a grading label) is worth the most; brown is normal for circulated coins.
• Avoid cleaned coins. Cleaning cuts value by 30% to 50% (United Patriot Coin).

The general rules for condition and rarity are in what makes a coin valuable.

Among Indian Head cents, the 1888/7 overdate is listed at $42,844 in MS60 by USA CoinBook (February 2026), so an uncirculated example is a $40,000 coin. Six-figure pennies are either extreme condition rarities (the 1877 at $149,500 in MS66 Red, 2007) or Lincoln cent keys and errors: the PCGS Price Guide (September 24, 2026) lists the 1909-S VDB at $150,000 in MS67 RD and the 1944 steel cent at $170,000 in MS64. See most valuable wheat pennies for the Lincoln list.

Research and drafting for this page were assisted by AI and checked line by line against the sources listed below. Prices are copied from the named price guide or auction report with its date; where a figure could not be confirmed we say so rather than estimate. If you find an error, tell us and we will correct it.