The INDIAN HEAD CENT
UNTIL THE MID–1940S Indian Head cents were on occasion still to be found in circulation and these fine-looking coins encouraged a whole generation of collectors. In the 1950s this interest was replaced by the Lincoln cent but today there is once more a demand for sets of Indian Head cents.
Today, the Indian Head cent is no longer the most popular of American coins, but it still has a large and growing following and is widely collected by many astute numismatists. It has several varieties which are of interest to a broad mass of collectors. The change of alloy during the dark days of the Civil War has also created an awareness among those interested in our history.
Part of the allure of the lowly Indian Head cent is the fact that good references are available. The best, by far, is the series of books written by Richard E. Snow; these can be used with ease by beginners and advanced collectors alike as they are written with both groups in mind.
As with most coinage designs, the Indian Head motif did not suddenly appear out of nowhere. It was the result of a long process which began in the early 1850s. At that time the old large copper cent was still being struck but the price of copper was rising at the same time, thus dooming the large cent and its little sister,
