In the postwar period, the cent became very popular and was struck in large numbers in most years. As Mint officials saw that privately issued bronze tokens were circulating, they induced Congress to pass the Coinage Act of 1864, authorizing a slimmer cent of bronze alloy. Cents were hoarded during the economic chaos of the American Civil War, when the metal nickel was in short supply. Mint Director James Ross Snowden selected the Indian Head design and chose a laurel wreath for the reverse, that was replaced in 1860 by an oak wreath with a shield. The Flying Eagle design caused production difficulties and the Mint soon looked to replace it. In 1858, the Flying Eagle was replaced with the Indian head design. The copper-nickel made them look brighter and they began to be called 'White cent' or 'Nicks'. This was the first use of copper-nickel for United States coins. The new pieces were identical in diameter to modern cents, though thicker. In 1857, the Mint reduced the size of the cent and changed the composition to 12% nickel and 88% copper ( copper-nickel), issuing a new design, the Flying Eagle cent. Cent and half-cent manufacture was one of the only profit centers for the Mint and by 1850 it began looking for alternatives. As gold became more abundant, the price of copper rose. The discovery of gold in California caused a large inflation in prices. It was designed by James Barton Longacre, the Chief Engraver at the Philadelphia Mint.įrom 1793 to 1857, the cent was a copper coin about the size of a half dollar. The Indian Head cent, also known as an Indian Head penny, was a one-cent coin ($0.01) produced by the United States Bureau of the Mint from 1859 to 1909.

Value of indian head penny 1898