There were two compositions used that year, with some 1864 cents made with the copper-nickel composition and others composed of bronze. In 1864, the cent?s composition was changed from 88% copper, 12% nickel to 95% copper, 5% tin or zinc. The wreath was modified and a shield added to the reverse in 1860, and in 1864 came a variety of changes to the series. The 1859 Indian cent is a one-year-only type, serving as the only issue without a shield depicted on the reverse. During that time, the Indian Head cent series spawned a plethora of semi-keys, a least one key, and many varieties. The Indian Head 'penny' was minted until 1909, spanning some 50 years and becoming what was then one of the America's longest-running coin series, along with the contemporary Liberty Seated motif that ran on most of the nation?s silver coins from the late 1830s through early 1890s. Interestingly, the Indian cent name is a misnomer, as the female figure on the coin's obverse is not a Native American but rather a Caucasian figure of Miss Liberty wearing a feathered headdress meant to depict, if inaccurately, a style of head adornment similar to those worn by some native peoples. Longacre and released in 1859 as a replacement for the Flying Eagle motif, which debuted in 1856 and became the nation's first small cent.

The Type 1 variant headdress feather points between the IC in AMERICA.Indian cents were designed by United States Mint Chief Engraver James B. Collectors believe the Type 2 design is slightly harder to find than the Type 1 variant. On the Type 2 design variation the lowest headdress feather points between CA in AMERICA. Also, the formation of the middle strike in the letter 'E' is slightly different as well. The distance between letters is closer on the 'Shallow N' variety. However there are some other differences. For well-worn 1870-1872 Indian Head cents this can be a challenge. The 'Bold N' variety mainly refers to the fact the letter 'N' in One Cent on the reverse of the coin sits higher 3-Dimensionally than a 'Shallow N' variety which sits lower and smoother to the coin. The differences between a 'Shallow N' and 'Bold N' Indian Head cent is easier to determine in-person versus a photo. 1870-1872 Bold vs Shallow N Indian Head Cents

Indian head pennies from 1898 1909