History of the 1888 Indian Head Penny
| Mint Mark | Good | Fine | Extremely Fine | Uncirculated | Proof |
| 1888 No Mint Mark Indian Head Penny | $4.79 | $7.04 | $28 | $179 | 292 |
| 1888 No Mint Mark Indian Head Penny (8 Over 7) | $1900 | $5300 | $8,800 | $74,201 |
The Indian head pennies were made as replacements for flying eagle cents that were minted for two years from 1856 to 1858. The Indian pennies were first used in circulation in 1859 and used in 1909. The design of these Indian head pennies was made by James Barton Longacre. This penny is mostly liked by collectors and is recognizable.
The Indian head penny is the 2nd small penny design. In 1856 the diameter of pennies changed from 28.5 mm to 19.05 mm when prices of copper increased. As a result, the melt value of coins falls below their face value.
1888 Indian Head Penny Value Chart
1888 Indian Head Penny Features
Obverse of 1888 Indian Head Penny
The front side of the coins comes with Lady Liberty in pearls and a male Native US feathered tiara. Legend Liberty is on her headband. The L for Longacre is also on this side, and the country name is also written, and the minting date is written there. This coin does not have reeds.
1888 Indian Head Penny Reverse
On this side of 1888 pennies, there is oak at the upper part, and the lower side has laurel. The wreath is connected with a ribbon that has 3 arrows. There is a shield between the upper part of the wreath.
The reverse of the 1888 penny also has a ONE CENT denomination.
Some other features of 1888 Indian Head pennies are
- 1888 Indian Head Pennies made with the use of 95% copper and 5% tin, zinc,
- These pennies also come with brown and red grades.
- The diameter is 19.05 mm, the thickness is 1.52 mm, and the weight is 3.11 grams.
1888 Indian Head Penny Value
There were 37,489,832 1888 Indian Head pennies made by the Philadelphia Mint. These coins are made for regular strikes. In 1888 only the Philadelphia mint made pennies and not other mints.
The Good Conditions 1888 pennies are about 4.63 dollars, and Fine Conditions are about 6.80 dollars.
In 2019, XF-grade coins sold for 932 dollars, and MS65-grade brown sold for 4600 dollars in 1999.
MS60 brown coins are about 125 dollars.
Reddish-brown coins in 1888 sold in 2017 for 1880 dollars.
In Mint State, Indian pennies sold for 15,000 or more dollars in auctions.
In 2003, an MS67 grade RD coin sold for 63250 dollars.
1888 Proof Brown Indian Head Penny Brown Value
| PR60 | PR 62+ | PR 63+ | PR 65 | PR66 | PR67 |
| $135 | $265 | $375 | $775 | $1,200 | $2,650 |
1888 Proof Red-Brown Indian Head Penny Value
| PR60 | PR 62+ | PR 63+ | PR 65 | PR66 |
| $175 | $325 | $400 | $800 | $2,800 |
1888 Proof Indian Head Penny Value
The Philadelphia Mint also made 1888 proof Indian Head pennies, and these coins were made with the use of special planchets. So they have a mirror-like look that is a satin finish. The P mint made about 4582 proofs of coins that do not have a mint mark.
- In 1997, a brown PR67 1888 proof penny sold for 3300 dollars, and now it has a value of about 2650 dollars.
- In 2012, PR66 RB sold for 3966 dollars, and PR66+ has a value of about 3550 dollars.
- PR66 red coins sold in 2014 for 15275 dollars.
- PR60 red has a value of about 250 dollars.
- PR65 CAM coin has a value of about 7150 dollars, and PR63 CAM sold for 2150 dollars.
1888 Indian Head Penny Errors List
1888 No Mint Mark Indian Head Penny Value 8 Over 7
The 1888 Indian head pennies come with a minting date of 1888, with the last digit over 7. It is a rare and high-value coin. In this error, the minting year is over the year 1887, which shows all first three digits are the same, but the last 8 over 7.
Fine-grade coins are about 5,251 dollars, and XF grade is about 8,716 dollars. In 2909, MS64 red-brown coins sold for 72,000 dollars.
IN 2007, MS63 brown sold for $74,750.
1888 Indian Head Cent Bronze Composite Penny
- Mintage: 37,489,832
- Minted at: Philadelphia (No Mint Mark)
- Designer – Engraver: James B. Longacre
- Metal Composition: 95% Copper – 5% Tin and Zinc
- Diameter: 19 mm
- Mass / Weight: 3.11 grams
1888 Indian Head Penny repunched date error
This error is a repunched date, and in this error, the same date is printed two times. This error occurs at the time of die minting when the die shifts and makes a double impression of the date. In 2011, coins with this error sold for 2530 dollars.
What is the 1888 Indian Head Penny made of?
Copper was used for the creation of 1888 Indian Head pennies that have a composition of tin and zinc. It has 95 percent copper and five percent tin and zinc.
How Much is an 1888 Indian Head Penny Worth?
The MS67 red 1888 Indian head pennies sold in 2003 for $63,250, and now they have a value of about $28,500. 1888 Proof Indian Head Cent PR 66 RD sold for 15275 dollars in 2014 and now has a value of about 9000 dollars. The repunched mint date error coins are about $74,000.