1879 Indian Head Penny Value What Is It Worth and Why Collectors Love It
The 1879 Indian Head Penny is worth anywhere from $2 in heavily worn condition to over $150 or more in mint state grades. If you just found one of these coins rattling around in an old jar or tucked inside a family keepsake box, you might be holding something more valuable than you think.
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What Is the 1879 Indian Head Penny?
The 1879 Indian Head Penny is a one-cent coin produced at the Philadelphia Mint during the post-Civil War era. Designed by James B. Longacre, the obverse features Lady Liberty wearing a Native American headdress — a design that gave the coin its popular name. The reverse shows a wreath of oak and laurel leaves surrounding the words “ONE CENT.”
In 1879, the U.S. Mint struck approximately 16,228,000 Indian Head cents, making it a moderately common date compared to some earlier issues in the series. However, age, condition, and collector demand still make surviving examples genuinely interesting — and potentially valuable.
If you’re not sure what you have, a free coin identifier app can help you quickly match your coin to known examples and get a ballpark sense of its grade before you pursue a formal appraisal. Apps like CoinKnow are especially popular for this purpose, letting everyday users photograph a coin and get instant identification results right from their smartphone.
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1879 Indian Head Penny Value by Grade
Condition — what coin collectors call “grade” — is the single biggest factor in determining your coin’s value. A heavily circulated 1879 penny with a flat, worn design is worth just a couple of dollars. But a lightly circulated or uncirculated example can fetch significantly more.
Here’s a general value chart based on current market trends:
| Grade | Description | Estimated Value |
|---|---|---|
| Good (G-4) | Heavy wear, major details visible | $2 – $4 |
| Fine (F-12) | Moderate wear, clear lettering | $8 – $15 |
| Extremely Fine (EF-40) | Light wear on high points | $30 – $50 |
| About Uncirculated (AU-55) | Slight friction, mostly sharp | $55 – $80 |
| Mint State (MS-63 RB) | Uncirculated, mixed red/brown | $100 – $150 |
| Mint State (MS-65 RD) | Full red luster, gem quality | $300+ |
For the most up-to-date auction results and certified sale prices, you can review detailed 1879 Indian Head Penny MS-RD price data that tracks what these coins are actually selling for in today’s market.
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What Makes Some 1879 Pennies Worth More?
Beyond basic grade, a few specific factors can push a 1879 Indian Head Penny value higher than average.
Color designation matters enormously for uncirculated coins. Copper coins are graded not just by wear but by the percentage of original mint red color remaining. A coin labeled “RD” (full red) will always command a premium over one labeled “RB” (red-brown) or “BN” (brown), even at the same numeric grade.
Strike quality is another variable. Some 1879 cents came off the press with sharper detail in the feathers of Liberty’s headdress and the diamond-shaped ribbon knot. A well-struck example is more desirable to specialists.
Eye appeal — a somewhat subjective quality — includes things like attractive toning, no distracting marks, and a well-centered design. Coins with strong visual appeal consistently sell above price guide estimates.
If you’re comparing values across different years of the series, looking at Indian Head Penny value information for other dates like 1898 can help you understand how year-to-year rarity affects prices across the entire series.
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How to Check Your 1879 Indian Head Penny’s Condition
You don’t need to be an expert to get a reasonable sense of your coin’s grade. Start by examining it under good lighting with a basic magnifying glass. Look at the highest points of the design — the tips of the feathers, Liberty’s cheekbone, and the ribbon bow. Heavy wear on these areas puts the coin in Good to Fine range. If you can still see sharp detail and the coin retains some shine, you may have a higher-grade example.
One of the easiest ways to get a quick read is to use CoinKnow, a popular coin identification and valuation app that helps beginners assess condition based on photos. It’s a great starting point before you decide whether professional grading through PCGS or NGC is worth the investment.
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FAQ
Q: Is the 1879 Indian Head Penny rare?
A: Not particularly. With over 16 million minted, it’s one of the more available dates in the series. However, high-grade examples — especially full red uncirculated coins — are genuinely scarce and worth a premium.
Q: Should I clean my 1879 Indian Head Penny before selling it?
A: Absolutely not. Cleaning a coin almost always reduces its value significantly. Collectors and dealers can spot cleaned coins easily, and a cleaned coin will sell for far less than an original, unaltered example in the same condition.
Q: How can I sell my 1879 Indian Head Penny?
A: You have several options: local coin dealers, online auction platforms like eBay, or coin shows. For higher-grade coins, consider getting it certified by PCGS or NGC first. You can also use CoinKnow to research recent sale prices before you list your coin anywhere, so you know what a fair offer looks like.
