1909 1C Indian, RD MS64RD Certification #19646077, PCGS #2237

CoinFacts Details

Expert Comments

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.

* * *

PCGS #

2237

Designer

James Barton Longacre

Edge

Plain

Diameter

19.00 millimeters

Weight

3.11 grams

Mintage

14368470

Metal

95% Copper, 5% Tin and Zinc

Pop Higher

1137

Pop Lower

292

Region

The United States of America

Price Guide

PCGS Population

Auctions - PCGS Graded

Auctions - 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.
65 or Better	3500	R-4.3	54 / 55	54 / 55
All Grades	3500	R-4.3	54 / 55	54 / 55
60 or Better	1250	R-4.9	52 / 55	52 / 55

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.
65 or Better	3500
All Grades	3500
60 or Better	1250

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.
65 or Better	R-4.3
All Grades	R-4.3
60 or Better	R-4.9

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.
65 or Better	54 / 55
All Grades	54 / 55
60 or Better	52 / 55

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.
65 or Better	54 / 55
All Grades	54 / 55
60 or Better	52 / 55

Condition Census Learn More

Pos	Grade	Pedigree and History
1	PCGS MS67+RD	Legend Rare Coin Auctions, July 26, 2018, Lot 210 - $8,518.75; Legend Rare Coin Auctions, February 25, 2021, Lot 23 - $10,868.75; "The Douglas Wright Collection of Indian Head Cents," Heritage Auctions, March 2, 2025, Lot 3090 - $14,400.
1	PCGS MS67+RD	"The Stewart Blay Collection," GreatCollections, November 12, 2023, Lot 1455955 - $15,187.50; GreatCollections, April 28, 2024, Lot 1556659 - $18,563.63.
1	PCGS MS67+RD	"The D. Brent Pogue Collection," Stack's Bowers, March 25, 2020, Lot 7103 - $8,700; Stack's Bowers, November 18, 2020, Lot 9074 - $10,800; "The Bender Family Collection, Part II," Heritage Auctions, January 15, 2023, Lot 3331 - $21,600; "The Alan L. Epstein Collection" (PCGS Set Registry).
1	PCGS MS67+RD	Heritage Auctions, Augusty 9, 2020, Lot 3026 - $18,000; "The Warren Thorne Legacy Date Set (CS)" (PCGS Set Registry).
1	PCGS MS67+RD	PCGS MS67RD #25687091. Heritage Auctions, August 2015, Lot 3942 - $6.462.50. As PCGS MS67+RD #39260988. Heritage Auctions, April 26, 2020, Lot 3638 - $12,048; Heritage Auctions, November 14, 2025, Lot 3476 - $11,100.

#1 PCGS MS67+RD

Legend Rare Coin Auctions, July 26, 2018, Lot 210 - $8,518.75; Legend Rare Coin Auctions, February 25, 2021, Lot 23 - $10,868.75; "The Douglas Wright Collection of Indian Head Cents," Heritage Auctions, March 2, 2025, Lot 3090 - $14,400.

#1 PCGS MS67+RD

"The Stewart Blay Collection," GreatCollections, November 12, 2023, Lot 1455955 - $15,187.50; GreatCollections, April 28, 2024, Lot 1556659 - $18,563.63.

#1 PCGS MS67+RD

"The D. Brent Pogue Collection," Stack's Bowers, March 25, 2020, Lot 7103 - $8,700; Stack's Bowers, November 18, 2020, Lot 9074 - $10,800; "The Bender Family Collection, Part II," Heritage Auctions, January 15, 2023, Lot 3331 - $21,600; "The Alan L. Epstein Collection" (PCGS Set Registry).

#1 PCGS MS67+RD

Heritage Auctions, Augusty 9, 2020, Lot 3026 - $18,000; "The Warren Thorne Legacy Date Set (CS)" (PCGS Set Registry).

#1 PCGS MS67+RD

PCGS MS67RD #25687091. Heritage Auctions, August 2015, Lot 3942 - $6.462.50. As PCGS MS67+RD #39260988. Heritage Auctions, April 26, 2020, Lot 3638 - $12,048; Heritage Auctions, November 14, 2025, Lot 3476 - $11,100.