1871 Indian Head Penny Coin Value: How Much Is It Worth?
The 1871 Indian Head penny is a low-mintage early bronze issue that collectors watch closely. Guide estimates for ordinary examples range from about $112 at G4 (a well-worn but readable coin) to $1,243 at MS63 (a choice uncirculated piece), depending on whether you hold a Bold N or Shallow N reverse.
Proofs, major varieties, and mint errors require separate evaluation beyond those anchors.
Fast Way to Identify Your 1871 Indian Head Penny
Snap a clear photo of the front and back of your 1871 Indian Head cent and upload both images. Our identifier can give you a preliminary read on which version you may have.
It is not a substitute for professional authentication or grading, but it is a solid first step before you dig deeper.
1871 Indian Head Penny Value
Upload both sides of your 1871 Indian Head Penny.
Front Obverse
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Back Reverse
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Which 1871 Indian Head Penny Versions Are Worth Money?
- The Shallow N reverse variety commands higher guide values than the Bold N at every listed grade — $186 at G4 versus $112 for Bold N.
- Shallow N proofs carry a guide estimate around $612 at PR63, compared to about $407 for Bold N proofs at the same grade.
- Uncirculated Bold N examples reach roughly $1,064 at MS63; the Shallow N equivalent lists near $1,243 at the same grade.
- Correctly identifying the N variety before pricing is essential — applying the wrong column can mislead your valuation by hundreds of dollars.
- Mint errors such as die breaks, repunched dates, and misplaced dates are reported for this date and are valued individually by severity and authentication.
Step 1: Identify Your 1871 Indian Head Penny Mint Mark and Version
Every 1871 Indian Head cent was struck at Philadelphia. There is no mintmark on this coin, and the small "L" on the ribbon behind the portrait is the engraver's initial, not a mint identifier.
The most important distinction for this date is on the reverse. Look at the word ONE at the bottom of the wreath.
The letter N comes in two forms: a Bold N with crisp, well-defined strokes, and a Shallow N where the relief is noticeably softer and less distinct. This is a hub variety, not a strike issue.
You need to get this right before looking up any value.
Confirm the Indian portrait obverse and the oak wreath with shield reverse. Do not confuse this coin with a Flying Eagle cent or a Lincoln wheat cent, both of which are completely different designs.
If the reverse shows a laurel wreath without a shield, you may have an 1859 issue instead.
Proof status is a manufacturing method, not a grade above mint state. Mirrored surfaces alone do not confirm proof origin; rim geometry and overall finish must also be consistent with known proof production.
Step 2: Check Your 1871 Indian Head Penny Grade
Start with the headband. The word LIBERTY is struck into the feathered headdress, and its letters wear away progressively from the ends inward.
On a G4 coin, most of the word is gone. By VF, all letters should be readable, though the middle ones may be soft.
Check the feather tips above the headband, the hair curls below the ear, and the cheek. These are the highest-relief areas and show friction first.
On the reverse, the leaf tips and shield details wear in a similar sequence.
A weak original strike can leave feathers and hair soft even on an uncirculated coin. Do not downgrade based on one mushy letter if the rest of the coin shows full luster and no contact wear.
Compare your coin against the reference image to judge overall sharpness.
Bronze color designations — BN (brown), RB (red-brown), and RD (red) — describe how much original copper color remains. They are not different materials.
Original surfaces with even color are more desirable than a coin that has been cleaned or retoned unevenly.
Step 3: Check 1871 Indian Head Penny Value by Mint and Version
1871 Indian Head Penny — Bold N
The 1871 Bold N is the more common of the two reverse varieties. It uses the newer reverse hub introduced around 1870, where the letter N in ONE has strong, clearly defined strokes.
Guide estimates place this version at about $112 in G4 and around $1,064 in MS63, per USA Coin Book.
Before checking prices, zoom in on that N and compare it side by side with a Shallow N example at similar wear. A worn Bold N can look softer, so use multiple reference points.
All 1871 cents came from Philadelphia with no mintmark. Original, problem-free surfaces matter more than raw grade when it comes to actual marketability.
| Range | Grade | Price | Auction Records | Appraisal |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| PO | PO 1 | — | Coin Identifier | |
| FR | FR 2 | — | Coin Identifier | |
| AG | AG 3 | Coin Identifier | ||
| G | G 4 | Coin Identifier | ||
| G 6 | Coin Identifier | |||
| VG | VG 8 | Coin Identifier | ||
| VG 10 | Coin Identifier | |||
| F | F 12 | Coin Identifier | ||
| F 15 | Coin Identifier | |||
| VF | VF 20 | Coin Identifier | ||
| VF 25 | Coin Identifier | |||
| VF 30 | Coin Identifier | |||
| VF 35 | Coin Identifier | |||
| XF | XF 40 | Coin Identifier | ||
| XF 45 | Coin Identifier | |||
| AU | AU 50 | Coin Identifier | ||
| AU 53 | Coin Identifier | |||
| AU 55 | Coin Identifier | |||
| AU 58 | Coin Identifier | |||
| MS | MS 60 | — | Coin Identifier | |
| MS 61 | Coin Identifier | |||
| MS 62 | Coin Identifier | |||
| MS 63 | Coin Identifier | |||
| MS 64 | Coin Identifier | |||
| MS 65 | Coin Identifier | |||
| MS 66 | Coin Identifier | |||
| MS 67 | — | — | — | |
| MS 68 | — | — | — | |
| MS 69 | — | — | — | |
| MS 70 | — | — | — |
1871 Indian Head Penny — PR Bold N
Proof Bold N cents from 1871 were struck with polished dies and planchets, producing mirror-like fields. The guide estimate is about $407 at PR63 according to USA Coin Book.
That is actually lower than the Shallow N proof at the same grade, so getting the variety right matters.
Verify proof status carefully. A business strike that someone polished years ago is not a proof.
Look for squared-off rims, fully struck design elements, and consistent mirrored surfaces across the entire coin. If any of that is missing, you likely have a cleaned circulation coin, not a proof.
Coin Value Lookup is a good starting point if you want to compare this coin with other Indian Head cent dates and varieties.
| Range | Grade | Price | Auction Records | Appraisal |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| PR | PR 1 | — | Coin Identifier | |
| PR 2 | — | Coin Identifier | ||
| PR 3 | — | Coin Identifier | ||
| PR 4 | — | Coin Identifier | ||
| PR 6 | — | Coin Identifier | ||
| PR 8 | — | Coin Identifier | ||
| PR 10 | — | Coin Identifier | ||
| PR 12 | — | Coin Identifier | ||
| PR 15 | — | Coin Identifier | ||
| PR 20 | — | Coin Identifier | ||
| PR 25 | — | Coin Identifier | ||
| PR 30 | — | Coin Identifier | ||
| PR 35 | — | Coin Identifier | ||
| PR 40 | — | Coin Identifier | ||
| PR 45 | — | Coin Identifier | ||
| PR 50 | — | Coin Identifier | ||
| PR 53 | — | Coin Identifier | ||
| PR 55 | — | Coin Identifier | ||
| PR 58 | — | Coin Identifier | ||
| PR 60 | — | Coin Identifier | ||
| PR 61 | — | Coin Identifier | ||
| PR 62 | Coin Identifier | |||
| PR 63 | Coin Identifier | |||
| PR 64 | Coin Identifier | |||
| PR 65 | Coin Identifier | |||
| PR 66 | Coin Identifier | |||
| PR 67 | — | — | — | |
| PR 68 | — | — | — | |
| PR 69 | — | — | — | |
| PR 70 | — | — | — |
1871 Indian Head Penny — Shallow N
This is the variety to watch. The 1871 Shallow N uses an older reverse hub where the N in ONE appears noticeably flatter and less defined compared to the Bold N.
It is not a weak strike or a worn die — it is a different hub entirely.
Guide values from USA Coin Book run about $186 at G4 and roughly $1,243 at MS63, a meaningful premium over the Bold N at both ends. That premium exists because the Shallow N is the scarcer of the two reverse types for this date.
To identify it, enlarge the word ONE under magnification and compare the N directly against a known Bold N image at a similar grade. On heavily worn coins, the distinction can be subtle, so take your time.
Ordinary-issue reference: Ordinary-issue reference only: The table below shows prices for the 1871 Indian Cent (regular strike). It does not represent the value of the specific 1871 Shallow N variety or its variety premium. Year, mint, metal and strike type are matched; the specific variety is not priced by this table.
Range Grade
Price1871 Indian Cent — Ordinary-Issue Reference (Regular Strike) (BN) Price1871 Indian Cent — Ordinary-Issue Reference (Regular Strike) (RB) Price1871 Indian Cent — Ordinary-Issue Reference (Regular Strike) (RD) Auction Records Appraisal PO PO 1
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Coin Identifier FR FR 2
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Coin Identifier AG AG 3
Coin Identifier G G 4
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G 6
Coin Identifier VG VG 8
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VG 10
Coin Identifier F F 12
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F 15
Coin Identifier VF VF 20
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VF 25
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VF 30
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VF 35
Coin Identifier XF XF 40
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XF 45
Coin Identifier AU AU 50
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AU 53
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AU 55
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AU 58
Coin Identifier MS MS 60
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MS 61
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MS 62
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MS 63
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MS 64
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MS 65
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MS 66
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MS 67
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MS 68
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—
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MS 69
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—
—
—
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MS 70
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1871 Indian Head Penny — Shallow N Proof
The Shallow N proof is the highest-valued branch in the 1871 Indian Head cent guide listings, with USA Coin Book estimating about $612 at PR63. It combines the older Shallow N reverse hub with proof manufacturing.
You need to confirm both attributes independently. First, check that the N in ONE has the characteristic reduced relief of the Shallow N hub.
Second, verify genuine proof surfaces: squared rims, full mirror fields, and no signs of artificial polishing. The shallow letter alone does not make a coin a proof, and proof surfaces alone do not make it a Shallow N.
These are scarce coins. If you believe you have one, professional authentication is worth the cost.
Ordinary-issue reference: Ordinary-issue reference only: The table below shows the related standard issue (1871 PR). It does not represent the value of the specific 1871 Shallow N Proof variety or its variety premium. The year, mint, metal and strike type are matched; the specific variety is not priced by this table.
Range Grade
Price1871 Indian Cent — Ordinary-Issue Reference (BN) Price1871 Indian Cent — Ordinary-Issue Reference (RB) Price1871 Indian Cent — Ordinary-Issue Reference (RD) Auction Records Appraisal PR PR 1
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PR 2
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PR 3
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PR 4
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PR 6
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PR 8
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PR 10
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PR 12
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PR 15
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PR 20
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PR 25
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PR 30
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PR 35
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PR 40
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PR 45
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PR 50
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PR 53
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PR 55
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PR 58
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PR 60
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PR 61
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PR 62
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PR 63
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PR 64
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PR 65
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PR 66
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PR 67
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PR 68
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PR 69
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—
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PR 70
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1871 Indian Head Penny Error List
1. 1871 Indian Head Penny — Die Break / Cud
A die break or cud on an 1871 Indian Head cent appears as a raised, irregular blob of metal — usually along the rim. A true cud occurs when a chunk of the die breaks away entirely, leaving a featureless raised area that connects to the rim and replaces part of the design.
To identify one, look for a clearly defined boundary where normal design elements stop and the raised mass begins. The shape should be consistent with a missing piece of steel, not a random lump.
Do not confuse a cud with a rim dent from post-mint damage, surface corrosion, or a small interior die chip that does not reach the rim. Rim damage is depressed into the coin; a cud is raised above it.
Each cud is valued individually based on its size, location, and the coin's authenticated condition, so no standard price range applies.
2. 1871 Indian Head Penny — Misplaced Date
A misplaced date error shows partial outlines of one or more date digits in the wrong location — typically embedded among the denticles near the rim or partially hidden by the portrait, away from the final date position.
On an 1871 cent, look carefully at the area below and around the date for traces of numerals that should not be there. Compare what you see against known examples; the shapes must match actual digit forms from the 1871 date punches.
Random die chips, scratches, or small raised bumps can mimic partial numerals under magnification. The key distinction is whether the feature clearly replicates the contour of a specific digit.
Value depends on the strength and visibility of the misplacement, plus the coin's overall grade and authentication status, so no standard price range is provided.
3. 1871 Indian Head Penny — Repunched Date
A repunched date on an 1871 Indian Head cent shows remnants of an earlier punch position alongside the final date numerals. You will typically see slight doubling or offset shadows on one or more digits — most visible under magnification.
This is different from mechanical doubling, which affects the entire design and produces flat, shelf-like distortion. A repunched date affects only the hand-punched date digits, and the secondary image often shifts in a specific direction relative to the final position.
Do not confuse a damaged or corroded date with a repunched one. Post-mint scratches and wear can create confusing shadows.
The offset must be consistent and match a plausible second punch position. Pricing for repunched dates varies by the clarity of the repunching and the coin's authenticated grade, so no set value range applies here.
4. 1871 Indian Head Penny — Die Crack
Die cracks on 1871 Indian Head cents appear as thin, raised lines running across the coin's surface. They form when the steel die develops a fracture during use, and that crack transfers as a raised ridge onto every coin struck afterward.
To identify one, trace the line across the field or through design elements and note where it starts and ends. A genuine die crack is raised above the surface and usually follows a somewhat irregular path.
The key lookalike is an incuse scratch, which is pressed into the surface rather than raised above it. Corrosion lines and displaced-metal scrapes from contact can also mimic cracks at a glance.
Run a fingernail or wooden toothpick across the line — if it catches going over it, that is raised; if your nail drops into it, that is a scratch. Value is assessed individually based on prominence and coin condition.
