Its production proved profitable to the federal government, as 3.7 bronze cents could be reproduced from every recoined copper large cent.ĭuring the Civil War, large numbers of cents were hoarded, then later dumped into circulation, causing a glut.

The bronze Indian Head cent was released in July 1864. Along with the 2-cent coin, the bronze Indian Head cents marked the first token coinage of the United States, being valued only by the government stamp, not the metal content. This bronze alloy would remain constant throughout the rest of the Indian Head cent series, which closed its run in 1909. 21, 1857, by changing the composition of the small cent from the 88 percent copper, 12 percent nickel – established with the Flying Eagle cent and the first nearly six years of Indian Head cent production – to a bronze alloy of 95 percent copper, 5 percent tin and zinc. The Mint Act of April 22, 1864, amended the Act of Feb.

A new reverse was introduced in 1860 as well, depicting a shield between the points of a new, oak wreath.Ī year before the Civil War ended, Congress took action to alter the composition of the small cents since the nickel coinage metal was in short supply and it was costing the Mint more than the face value to produce the coins. The hub style was changed from narrow bust point in 1860 to a broad bust point, possibly to increase die life. One of the latter two variations – the centered laurel wreath with low relief – was paired with the obverse Indian Head design to strike the first coins for circulation in 1859.

A third selection offered two versions of a plain laurel wreath. The second choice depicted an oak wreath with a wide ornamented shield above. One alternative included a plain oak wreath. At the same time Longacre produced the Indian Head obverse, three new reverse designs were also tested. The chief engraver had been in his position for more than a dozen years when he was given the assignment to fix the existing cent design or produce a new one. The head and tail of the eagle on the obverse of the copper-nickel Flying Eagle cent were positioned directly opposite the wreath on the reverse, creating weakness in the detail of the design with every strike. Longacre substitutes Indian Head designs for Flying Eagleĭifficulty in modifying the Flying Eagle cent design to correct the problem of short die life and poor strikeability led Chief Engraver James Barton Longacre to abandon the eagle motif in favor of his new Indian Head design in 1859.

1898 indian head penny composition