1909 1C Indian, BN (Regular Strike)

Series: Indian Cents 1859-1909

PCGS MS66+BN

PCGS MS66BN

PCGS #:: 2235

Designer:: James Barton Longacre

Edge:: Plain

Diameter:: 19.00 millimeters

Weight:: 3.11 grams

Mintage:: 14,368,470

Mint:: Philadelphia

Metal:: 95% Copper, 5% Tin and Zinc

Auction Record:: $3,600 • MS64BN • 04-03-2024 • Stack's Bowers

ShowHide Related Coins and Varieties (6)

Major Varieties

1909 1C Indian, BN
1909 1C Indian, RB
1909 1C Indian, RD

Die Varieties

Go To Grade

Price Guide (USD)

PCGS Population

Auctions - PCGS Graded

Auctions - NGC Graded

Current Auctions - PCGS Graded

Current Auctions - NGC Graded

For Sale Now at Collectors Corner - PCGS Graded

For Sale Now at Collectors Corner - NGC Graded

Rarity and Survival Estimates Learn More

Grades	Survival Estimate The Survival Estimate represents an average of one or more experts' opinions as to how many examples survive of a particular coin in three categories: 1) all grades, 2) 60 or better, and 3) 65 or better. These estimates are based on a variety of sources, including population reports, auction appearances, and personal knowledge. Survival estimates include coins that are raw, certified by PCGS, and certified by other grading services.	Numismatic Rarity Numismatic Rarity converts the Survival Estimate for a particular coin into a number from 1 to 10 (with decimal increments) based on the PCGS Rarity Scale. The higher the number, the more rare the coin.	Relative Rarity By Type Relative Rarity By Type ranks the rarity of this coin with all other coins of this Type. Lower numbers indicate rarer coins.	Relative Rarity By Series Relative Rarity By Series ranks the rarity of this coin with all other coins of this Series. Lower numbers indicate rarer coins.
All Grades	4,000	R-4.2	13 / 55 TIE	13 / 55 TIE
60 or Better	200	R-7.0	33 / 55 TIE	33 / 55 TIE
65 or Better	15	R-9.3	24 / 55 TIE	24 / 55 TIE

Survival Estimate
All Grades	4,000
60 or Better	200
65 or Better	15

Numismatic Rarity
All Grades	R-4.2
60 or Better	R-7.0
65 or Better	R-9.3

Relative Rarity By Type All Specs in this Type
All Grades	13 / 55 TIE
60 or Better	33 / 55 TIE
65 or Better	24 / 55 TIE

Relative Rarity By Series All Specs in this Series
All Grades	13 / 55 TIE
60 or Better	33 / 55 TIE
65 or Better	24 / 55 TIE

Condition Census What Is This?

Pos	Grade	Pedigree and History
1	PCGS MS66+BN	"The Arizona Indians" (PCGS Set Registry).
1	PCGS MS66BN	GreatCollections, August 9, 2015, Lot 294105 - $309.38; "The Brown Bronze Beauties + Collection" (PCGS Set Registry).
1	PCGS MS66BN

#1 PCGS MS66+BN

"The Arizona Indians" (PCGS Set Registry).

#1 PCGS MS66BN

GreatCollections, August 9, 2015, Lot 294105 - $309.38; "The Brown Bronze Beauties + Collection" (PCGS Set Registry).

#1 PCGS MS66BN

Charles Morgan:

The 1909 Indian Cent

The year 1909 marked the 50th and final year of James Barton Longacre’s Indian Cent design before the U.S. Mint transitioned to Victor David Brenner’s Lincoln Wheat Cent. Philadelphia handled the bulk of the year's production, striking 14,368,470 coins starting on January 2, 1909. Notably, 1909 was the first year the date was hubbed directly into the master dies — a technical innovation designed to eliminate hand-punched overdates.

Noteworthy First Strike

A historic 1909 Philadelphia cent, purported to be the very first specimen struck by coiner Rhine R. Freed, sold at Stack’s Bowers on March 27, 2024, for $3,600 (complete with its original presentation card).

Known Varieties

Indian Cent expert Rick Snow attributes two distinct obverse varieties in his Flying Eagle & Indian Cent Attribution Guide:

Master Die Doubled Initial (FS-101): Features doubling on Longacre’s "L" initial. Despite its inclusion in the Cherrypickers' Guide, this common master die issue affected numerous dies and carries little collector premium.
Minor Doubled Die: Displays light, subtle doubling on the obverse lettering.

PCGS attributes the FS-101 through our variety service.

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