1881 Indian Head Cent
- Denomination
- Cent
- Mint
- P (Philadelphia)
- Composition
- bronze
- Mintage
- 39,211,575
This page has imported grade-level guide data and is ready for normal collector comparison.
| Grade | Quality | Est. Value |
|---|---|---|
| Good-4 | Good | $5 |
| Very Good-8 | Very Good | $6 |
| Fine-12 | Fine | $8 |
| Very Fine-20 | Very Fine | $10 |
| Extremely Fine-40 | Extremely Fine | $25 |
| About Uncirculated-50 | About Uncirculated | $30 |
| MS-60 | Mint State | $35 |
| MS-63 | Choice Uncirculated | $83 |
| MS-65 | Gem Uncirculated | $280 |
Estimates from published guides and recent sold data. Grade is everything. Verify before you buy.
What is the 1881 Indian Head Cent worth?
Current guide estimates on this page range from $5.00 to $280 depending on grade.
Why does grade matter for the 1881 Indian Head Cent?
Coin value can change sharply by condition. Use the grade ladder and price-by-grade table before relying on any single headline estimate.
Does melt value affect the 1881 Indian Head Cent?
This page does not show a meaningful melt floor for this coin, but silver and gold issues can have metal value that affects lower-grade outcomes.
- Minted
- 1881
- Denomination
- Cent
- Composition
- bronze
- Mintage
- 39,211,575
Indian Head Cent series: Despite the name, Longacre's portrait depicts Liberty wearing a Native American headdress - a Victorian artistic convention, not a portrait of an Indigenous person. The 1877 issue, with a mintage of just 852,500, is the major key date. Replaced by the Lincoln Cent for Lincoln's 1909 centennial. Designed by James B. Longacre. Struck 1859–1909.
Use the grade ladder, pricing confidence, and melt floor together before making a buying decision.
Read methodology →Better price data, a variety we missed, or a mintage correction? Collectors make this guide accurate.
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