Gary's 20th Century Type Set
1c INDIAN HEAD 1900-1909


Obverse
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Reverse
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Coin Details

  

Set Details
Origin/Country: United States
Design Description: CENTS - INDIAN HEAD
Item Description: 1C 1908
Grade: PCGS MS 64 RB
Owner: coinsbygary
 
Winning Set: Gary's 20th Century Type Set
Date Added: 6/21/2009
Research: See NGC's Census Report for this Coin

Owner's Description

The Indian Head Cent enjoyed a popular run of 50 years from 1859 to 1909. According to legend designer, James B. Longacre used his daughter Sarah as the model for his design on the obverse of the Indian Head Cent that features a bust of “Lady Liberty” with an Indian headdress. The reverse design in 1859 featured a laurel wreath and changed on the eve of the Civil War to an oak leaf wreath in 1860. Tied by a ribbon on the bottom of the oak leaf wreath are three arrows and an olive branch. The oak leaf wreath represents strength, sturdiness, and durability while the olive branch and arrows represent a desire for peace and the power to wage war when necessary. On top of the wreath is a small federal shield with 13 vertical stripes that represents the 13 original states. The wide horizontal bar across the top of the shield supported by the 13 vertical stripes represents the Union or the United States. As such, in the face of the greatest threat to unity in our nation's history, the reverse of the Indian Head Cent symbolized the strength of the Union. Soon afterwards, on April 12, 1861, our nation found itself in the midst of a bloody civil war; nevertheless, the Union persevered. There are few coins more beautiful to me than a red "mint-state" Indian Head Cent. This red/brown MS-64, 1908 Indian Head Cent that looks more red than brown is one of my favorite coins in this set.

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