1899 Indian Head Penny Value, Are “Red”, “Brown”, “Red-Brown” Worth Money?

Indian head penny coines were first made from 1859 to 1909 and with that, some 1858 pattern coins also exist. On the coins there was not a photo of Native Americans also Lady Liberty had a male Native American feather headdress. This coin is famous and comes with different values based on conditon. So let get started with the 1899 indian head penny value

1899 Indian Head Penny Value

The 1899 indian head penny was made by P mint for about 53,598,000 with 2000 proof coins made. Mostly coins made at P mint do not have mint marks. A coin of this type sold for 108000 dollars in an auction for MS68 RD grade in 2019.

In 2018 MS 66+ RB sold for $963 in Auction. Brown coins of MS67BN grade sold for 1293 dollars in 2017.

In 2023 MS 66+ BN sold for 600 dollars, MS 66+ RB for 1000 dollars, and MS68 RD sold for $120,000. About five coins exist.

1899 indian head penny value

1899 Proof Indian Head Penny Value

With regular coins P mint also made proof coins. There were about 2031 proofs of indian head coins made that year in P mint. Proof coins are used for testing purposes to make sure the die working well before making a larger number of coins. With time Mint started to make prof coins for collectors.

As compared to other years proof coins 1899 low mintage proof coins these coins not easy to get.

1899 also comes with cameo and deep cameo coins. Brown and red coins were also made.

The brown 1899 proof Indian head coin with PF62 grade is about 120 dollars and PF66 is about 1200 dollars.

The high price brown proof indian head penny sold for 1200 dollars with PF67 grade

PF67 grade sold for 2875 dollars in a 2010 auction

Full red 1899 proof indian penny is high value. These coins PF63 grade sold for 350 dollars and MS67 for 6000 dollars.

An 1899 Indian head penny having a Cameo is of high value. PF67 grade sold for 13800 dollars in 2004 Auction.

Matte Proofs Vs Reflective Proofs

After creation, matte-proof coins are packed with special sulfur-infused tissue paper to avoid tarnish. Paper-toned coins after many years of storage. if matte proofs were used collectors preferred mirrored proofs, so matt was not used mostly. There were about 2000 proofs per coin, so collectors have an interest in these coins. Matte-proof coins made from 1909 to 1917 and coins before 1908 and after 1936 were mirrored proofs.

Auction record of 1899 proof indian head penny sold for 2875 dollars for PR67 BN grade in 2010.

In 2022 sold for 5405 dollars for PR67Rb grade.

In 2004 sold for 8050 dollars of PR67 RD grade.

Features Of 1899 Indian Head Penny

Obverse Of 1899 Indian Head Penny

The indian head penny comes with a left-facing photo of Lady Liberty clad in a native indian headdress in the front side. The liberty also has flowing hair and is fastened with a band spotting inscription word LIBERTY. The country name UNITED STATES OF AMERICA is also on this. Minting date 1899 can also seen there.

Reverse Of 1899 Indian Head Penny

The back side of the 1899 penny is simple and comes with an oak wreath and 3 arrows tied into the wreath with flowing dainty ribbon. Oak wreath denotes strength and arrows are a symbol of sovereignty.

On top, there is a small shield, which is a symbol of readiness to protect the country. The denomination ONE CENT is also on this side in the middle of the coins.

Some other features of the 1899 indian head penny are.

  • These coins are made with 95% copper, 5% tin, and zinc.
  • it is a plain-edge coin with 19.00 millimeters in diameter and weighs 3.11 grams.

1899 indian head penny features

1899 Indian Head Penny Grading

Number Grade
1 Basal State-1
2 Fair
3 Very Fair
4, 5, 6 Good
7, 8, 10 Very Good
12, 15 Fine
20, 30 Very Fine
40 Extremely Fine
50 About Uncirculated
60 MS
65 MS
70 MS

1899 Indian Head Penny Errors

Re-Punched Date Indian Head Penny Error

The repunched date error comes when many numbers in the die are punched more than one time in the die resulting in overlapping numbers when the die moves during punching. The doubling effect on the 1899 indian penny can seen on number 8. Coins with this error can have a value ranging from 25 to 30 dollars.

1899 Indian Head Penny RPD #2 Error (FS-302)

RPD is an error type when a die error is shifted on coins made with a faulty die, a larger number of coins comes with this error. FS302, an error can seen with the use of a microscope for finding the doubling effect on numbers 1, 8 and 9. Coins with this error sold for  $124 in January 2017 MS63 grade.

1899 Die Break Indian Head Penny Error

The die break is a minting error where some part of the die working is missed. Due to breakage, the die did not shift the component of the design on the coins, then resulted in blank and depressed parts of the coins.

Based on the die break component the 1899 indian penny comes with a die breaker error is about 20 dollars some collectors have paid about 75 dollars for this error.

Reverse Cud Indian Head Penny Error

Cud error is like the die break error and some coins with this error are high value. On the coin, the cud looks like a blob that affects the inscription, surface, or devices since it is caused by the coin’s field. Cud can easily be seen as and high-value coin. Die break can be about 75 dollars and cur error can be of 150 dollars

1899 Indian Head Penny RPD Error 3

This error exists on the 2nd 9 and series of number 1. The high price recorded for these coins as $301 in 2021 for MS64 RB

History Of 1899 Indian Head Penny

The 1899 Indian head penny is part of the indian head pennies series made from 1859 to 1909. Early coins made back to 1793, were made with copper for the longest time about the 1850s, when copper became higher than other compositions used. At the start of 1857 mint changed its composition from 100 percent copper to  88% copper and 12% nickel. It also reduced the size of coins and made coins with flying eagles. From 1864 composition changed again from 95% copper and 5% tin and zinc.

The flying eagle cent was the first mint made with copper-nickel. irrespective of eye appeal, flying eagles are not easy to make due to the design’s high relief.

The difficult creation process urged Mint to go for different options and Longacre made another desing which is the replacement of Flying Eagle cent.

After many changes the design of Longacre’s for indian Head. Since mint mark made the indian head penny cent in 1859, coins were famous and hoarded. On demand larger number of coins were made except in 1877 due to low demand and less number of Indian Head penny series. The 1899 indian heat penny was the last coin in the series before the Lincoln cent replaced the Indian Head cent in 1909.

What Is 1899 Indian Head Penny Made from?

From 1864 to 1909 all Indian head pennies also 1899 were made with  95% copper and 5% zinc and tin alloy. Indian head penny is mostly created with copper to make sure the coin is authentic.

Are 1899 Indian Head Pennies Valuable?

The 1899 indian head penny is about face value. These coins can be high value for uncirculated conditions and are not easy to find.

Indian Cents Value Range
1899 1c MS RB $68.00  $2,810 $68.00 – $2,810
1899 1c Repunched Date, FS-301, S-1 MS RB
1899 1c Repunched 18/18, S-5 MS RB

What year is the most valuable Indian Head penny?

1877 is the most valueable penny

How many 1899 Indian Head Pennies were made?

Year & Mint Mintage Proof Mintage
1896 39,055,431 1,862
1897 50,464,392 1,938
1898 49,821,284 1,795
1899 53,598,000 2,031

What Do Indian Head Pennies Symbolize?

Indian pennies come with a photo of Lady Liberty with a feathered headdress on the front side of the coins. The design symbolizes the westward expansion of the United States, which was primarily Native American territory.

How Rare Is An 1889 Indian Head Penny?

it is not a rare penny there were about 50 million coins made, and easy to access. Most 1899 coins have been worn due to circulation

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