Friday, August 05, 2005

1889 Indian Head Cent

Do you have an Indian Head penny and want to know its value? Leave a comment/question and I will do my best to find out the price and history for you.

Anonymous asked this question....

I found an indian head penny, the picture and year and all the letters and words in the coin are completly clear. It date is 1889. Is this coin worth anything?
Here's the stats for that penny....
Year: 1889
Metal: 95% copper 5% tin and zinc
Mintage: 48,866,025
Value: G-4 $3.00 (check grading guide below for higher values)

The Indian Head Penny was minted from 1859-1909 only the 1908 and 1909 came with two mint marks. Generally each Indian Head is about $2.50 in low grade but the years between 1866-1878 gets low grade values of $60.00 on average.

The highest low grade + non-error coin is 1877 which at G-4 is $900.00.



Here's how to quickly determine the grade for that 1889 penny.
G-4 (Good) value $3.00
  1. on the front the Indian's headband won't show the word LIBERTY
  2. the wreath in the back is worn, no details
  3. no rim on coin
F-12(Fine) value $5.00
  1. on the front LIBERTY is full and readable
  2. the wreath has leaves but they are worn
  3. full rim
EF-40(Extremely Fine) value $18.00
  1. full sharp LIBERTY
  2. feather on headdress fully sharp every line visible
  3. only the bow on the wreath will be slightly worn
AU-50(About Uncirculated) value $27.00
  1. only the slightest worn spot on the ear or the curl of the Indian's hair
Yes, I know I keep referring to the person on the coin as "the Indian" which is not, it is actually Liberty a woman that symbolize....Liberty, of course. In this coin she is just wearing an Indian headdress.
Full red color and sharp unmarked coins are worth a lot more in auctions.

33 dollars worth, for Comments/Questions click here.:

Anonymous said...

I have a bunch of indian head cents ranging from 1886 to 1908 and a variety of other coins but i can not find a web site to price them on. if you would be able to email me a great website i would appreciate it. sstgrg@yahoo.com

Man said...

The reason I started my own blog about coins is that most price guide
are way off.

Here's a popular one http://www.pcgs.com/prices/ the problem with them
is that they are overpriced on many coins. So divide their prices by
ten and it will be right.

What most people use to find average prices is the Red Book by Yeomen
or eBay.com.

Ebay is a great place to see how well certain coins sell for Indian
Head Cents generally sell for about $1.25 - $2.00.

Good Luck and check back at my site,
http://coinedformoney.blogspot.com/ because after I go on break this
semester I should start updating and try to organize it better.

Anonymous said...

I have an 1889 Indian head penny that looks like it's in perfect condition. However, the word "Liberty" is missing? What is its worth?

Thanks for any help.

Man said...

1889 Indian head penny that looks like it's in perfect condition. However, the word "Liberty" is missing?

The word LIBERTY is how value is assessed. SO it would be about $3.00.

Anonymous said...

I have a penny that I think has an error. It doesnt have the mint on it! The year is 2006. Can you find how much it is worth for me?

Man said...

It doesnt have the mint on it! The year is 2006.

That is normal it is from Philadelphia the penny is the only U.S. coin that doesn't carry a mint mark if it is from Philly.

Anonymous said...

I found an 1898 Indian Head penny it is in really good shape and I was just wondering if you could possibly tell me a value

Man said...

1898 Indian Head penny it is in really good shape

About $3.50

Anonymous said...

HI I was just going through my Indian Head pennys and found a 1905 with the words United States missing. You can see the s at the end but it is faint and only the tips of the t and e under magnafacation. the coin has a full rim and is in G-6 with liberty faint. What would the value be? If you would like a picture, I could take one and send to you.
Thank You Andy

Man said...

Indian Head pennys and found a 1905 with the words United States missing. You can see the s at the end but it is faint and only the tips of the t and e under magnafacation. the coin has a full rim and is in G-6 with liberty faint

This is just a weak strike and does not add value, it may even lower value but still it would be about $1.00 and may grade less than G-4.

Lahela said...

I have 1889 and 1902 pennies and they aren't worth very much. I figured that since they're so old they would be worth more because they were rare.

Man said...

pennies
1889 about $3.00
1902 about $2.00

These are not rare but still nice.

Anonymous said...

i have an 1889 indian head penny , it is decent condition what would the value of this be É

Man said...

1889 indian head penny , it is decent condition

About $5.00 in fine

Anonymous said...

I have an 1889 indian head penny that was graded at "Very Good".What is it worth?

Man said...

1889 indian head penny that was graded at "Very Good"

About $3.50

Anonymous said...

Hi,m I found a 1905 IHP that is in xf condition but it's green. It's not from verdigris, however. Does this affect the value, and if so, what's the value?

Man said...

1905 IHP that is in xf condition but it's green. It's not from verdigris

Then what is the green, it is some kind of damage.

About $10.00 if xf but if the green is anything else but paint just $0.50.

Anonymous said...

HI I HAVE A 1905 PENNY IN GREAT SHAPE YOU CAN READ LIBERTY ALL THE WORDS HER DIAMONDS , BUT THE LETTER I IN AMERICA IS MISSING ITS REALLY STRANGE , THE COIN IS IN REALLY SHAPE, COULD THIS BE A MISPRINT? AND HOW MUCH DO YOU VALUE THIS COIN?THANK YOU

Man said...

1905 PENNY IN GREAT SHAPE YOU CAN READ LIBERTY ALL THE WORDS HER DIAMONDS , BUT THE LETTER I IN AMERICA IS MISSING ITS REALLY STRANGE , THE COIN IS IN REALLY SHAPE

Could be a Struck Through Grease error or a weak strike, either no extra value.

About $4.50

Bryan said...

I came across a 1869 Indian Head cent, and it has been stamped "I.H. Davis" right through the obverse. I was wondering if you have seen something like this before, or have any idea why someone would do this. Also, do you know how this stamp affects the value of the cent? Thanks.

http://s1233.photobucket.com/albums/ff382/xwhynotmex/?action=view&current=IMAG0359.jpg

Man said...

1869 Indian Head cent, and it has been stamped "I.H. Davis" right through the obverse. I was wondering if you have seen something like this before, or have any idea why someone would do this. Also, do you know how this stamp affects the value of the cent?

Looks like T. H. Davis to me but either way this is a counter-stamp done throughout the 19th century for advertising purposes.

There are list of these names but this one is not listed. Typically unless it was for a famous person it lowers the value.

About $5.00 if you can find the original person it may double the value.

qwerty said...

There is this 1905 Indian penny that is painted different colors is it faked or was there paint on them? thanks
here is the link with picture
http://www.listia.com/auction/3066339-w-w-1905-painted-indian-head-penny-cent

Man said...

1905 Indian penny that is painted different colors is it faked or was there paint on them?

Someone painted it.
It is considered damaged and has no value above $0.10.

Painting coins like that is a recent thing done by cetain companies and sold on QVC.

Man said...

"certain" I meant to say.

mathieu said...

hi, i have a 1865 indian head penny. (us) it apears to be fine\very fine. can you tell me how much it would be worth please?

Man said...

1865 indian head penny. (us) it apears to be fine\very fine

About $20.00

MS said...

Hello, I Have roll hunted, bought and other methods of coin collecting. I got a roll of a mix of wheat pennies and Indian heads as change from a wallgreens. I predict somebody must have been a colecter since I have a coin store near me. I found a 1864 that looks decent and a 1901 that has an amazing tint. What is it worth?

Man said...

U.S. cents
1864 that looks decent about $20.00 depending on type
1901 that has an amazing tint about $2.00

Anonymous said...

I have an 1883 indian head penny in VG-8 condition and there is the letter C on the left of the chin. Would this mark raise it's value? It appears to be some mint error

Man said...

1883 indian head penny in VG-8 condition and there is the letter C on the left of the chin

That is damage and it would lower the value to about $0.05

Unknown said...

Don't listen to this guy! That is a huge mint error and worth much more! Send it in to PCGS to have it graded!

Unknown said...

That's an error! Send it to PCGS for grading!