Indian Head Cent (Struck Off-Center)
Numismatic Coin / Mint Error • United States Mint (James B. Longacre, Designer)
Style & Movement
American Numismatic Realism / 19th Century Industrial Coinage
Medium & Technique
Bronze (95% copper, 5% tin and zinc); Die-struck minting process with planchet misalignment
Creation Period
1867
Dimensions & Format
Approximately 19mm diameter (original spec); Circular tondo format; Standard small cent size
Subject Description
Obverse features Liberty wearing a Native American feathered headdress. The coin exhibits a major 'off-center strike' error, where the planchet was not properly centered under the dies, leaving a portion of the coin blank and pushing the design to the edge.
Condition & Value Assessment
Condition Assessment
Poor to Fair (Basal State / AG3); The coin shows extreme environmental damage, heavy oxidation, and significant circulation wear, though the date '1867' remains partially legible.
Estimated Market Value
$40.00 - $75.00 USD
Auction Estimate
$30.00 - $60.00 USD
Provenance History
Formerly part of an estate or collection processed by S&Y Asset Management, Inc. (Auction Time Bid Board, Orwigsburg, PA); Consignor #5904; Item 626.
Art Historical Significance
Representational of mid-19th century American commerce and the fragility of the industrial minting process. Mint errors of this age are historically significant as they bypassed quality control during a period of high production demand following the Civil War.
Notable Features
Major off-center strike error (approx. 20-30% off-center); visible '1867' date which is a semi-key date for the series, increasing value despite the poor condition.
Condition Issues
Heavy surface corrosion, pitting, verdigris, significant circulation wear obscuring high-point details, and environmental staining (dark browning).
Conservation Recommendations
Keep in a PVC-free archival flip or slab; avoid chemical cleaning which would further damage the compromised metal surface; maintain in a low-humidity environment to prevent further oxidation.