1887 Indian Head Penny
Coin Highlights: Struck in 95% Copper and 5% Tin & Zinc. Individual coins come in protective packaging. Designed by James B. Obverse: Depicts a representation of Liberty wearing a headdress. Reverse: Features the words 'ONE CENT' inside a wreath around the perimeter of the coin. Add this Indian Head Cent to your cart today! 1887 Indian Head Penny Value 1887 Indian head penny value is over $2 if your coin was fortunate and avoided excessive wear and/or damage. Pennies from the 1880s are less common than later years and finding one in nice condition puts into the scare category. Most of these coins became worn completely smooth.
Bronze Composite Penny
What This Coin Looks Like (Obverse, Reverse, Mint Mark Location, Special Features, etc.):
There is a major variety of the 1888 Indian head Cent (Penny) where the 1888 date was punched over a 1887 date. This resulted in an 1888/7 or 8/7 variety where a small subtle portion of the '7' appeared under the leading '8'. One way to identify this error is to note a small knob under the '8' which represents the bottom of the '7' as depicted in the example image of this penny above. In other cases an additional small portion of the underlying '7' may also appear above the last '8' in the 1888 date as well.
| Good (G-4) | Very Good (VG-8) | Fine (F-12) | Very Fine (VF-20) | Extremely Fine (EF-40) | About Uncirculated (AU-50) | Uncirculated (MS-60) | Uncirculated (MS-63) | Proof (PR-63) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| $1,254 | $1,630 | $2,167 | $3,685 | $8,099 | $18,993 | $24,350 | $37,175 | - |
USA Coin Book Estimated Value of 1888 Indian Head Penny (Last 8 Over 7 Variety) is Worth $1,630 in Average Condition and can be Worth $24,350 to $37,175 or more in Uncirculated (MS+) Mint Condition. Click here to Learn How to use Coin Price Charts. Also, click here to Learn About Grading Coins. The Melt Value shown below is how Valuable the Coin's Metal is Worth (bare minimum value of coin). Click here to see the Melt Value of every US Coin.
MELT VALUE: $0.0241
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- 1882 Indian Head Pennies
1887 Indian Head Penny Error
Coin Info
1882 Indian Head cents are commonly encountered at most U.S. coin shops, and they often turn up in rolls of mixed-date Indian Head pennies. While 1882 cents are only rarely, if ever, found in circulation or standard bank rolls, they’re plentiful in the numismatic community, and there are plenty to go around in terms of meeting current demand.
38,581,100 Indian Head pennies were made in 1882, and these are generally worth about $3 for an original, uncleaned specimen in a grade of Good-4. 3,100 proof Indian Head pennies were made in 1882, and these retail for about $1,450 for a choice specimen. As 1882 pennies are quite common, it makes sense to buy the best specimen you can afford, and you should therefore avoid buying cleaned, damaged pieces as these, though quite cheap, aren’t particularly desirable to most coin collectors.
Indian Head pennies were designed by Chief Engraver of the United States Mint James B. Longacre and were first produced in 1859. Along with 1882 Indian Head pennies, Longacre also designed the two-cent coin – the first U.S. coin to bear the words IN GOD WE TRUST. As for Indian Head pennies, many people think they depict an actual Native American. The figure on the coin is a representation of Miss Liberty, who was, in this case, modeled after Longacre’s 12-year-old daughter, Sarah.