VSI COLLECTION - Basic U.S.Type Set - No Gold
1C INDIAN HEAD, LAUREL WREATH (1859)

Owner Comments:

A nice one year type coin.This NGC graded coin in AU-55 condition is a one year type coin which marked the end of the Flying Eagle Cent and the beginning of the Indian Cent.The reverse of this coin was modified slightly in 1860 with the addition of a shield and modification of the wreath.The Indian Cent from 1859-1864 was made of a copper/nickel alloy with the year 1864 being produced in both a copper/nickel alloy and a bronze alloy. Many of these coins were hoarded during the U.S. Civil War also known as the War of Rebellion by the Northern States.This hoarding of coinage accounted for the private introduction of Civil War Tokens and Encased Postage Stamps in order for merchants to make small change for their customers as well as a form of advertising their businesses.The Civil War tokens were made in both storecard and patriotic versions.The collecting of these tokens have become very popular today and may be another area of coin collecting,with much historical significance,that you may want to consider as another way to expand your collecting horizons.James Buchanan was the Nation’s 15th President at the time this coin was being struck - just prior to the start of the American Civil War.John Breckinridge was the 14th Vice President of the United States.Just a year earlier on May 11,1858 the State of Minnesota was admitted to the Union.Also in 1859 drilling was completed on the first productive commercial oil well in Titusville,Pennsylvania on August 27,1859.