Indian Head Cent 1876 G-VG

This year was the hundredth anniversary of United States independence. President Ulysses Grant addressed a crowd in Philadelphia. This speech also marked the first time a leader of a major foreign nation, emperor Dom Pedro of Brazil visited the United States. The Battle of Little Bighorn took place this year, forever cementing General Custer’s last stand in American Lore. The presidential election this year would not be resolved until the following year. Many southern states were in dispute and after many back room deals, Rutherford B. Hayes won the presidency. Also in this year, 10,000 20 cent pieces were minted and all but 20 were melted, making it by far the rarest date in that series.

The Indian Head cent mintage figure this year dropped significantly from the year before, issuing only 8,000,000. This is, however, only at first glance. Due to the Mint Act of 1871, the US Mint accepted and reissued over 5,000,000 older bronze cents back into circulation, bringing the total amount issued by the Mint to over 13,000,000. Most of the specimen found from this year are well worn because they were widely circulated and a popular coin to collect due to the nation’s centenary. Many patriotic Americans this year kept the penny as a keepsake for the nation’s 100th birthday!

Over 1,000 proof Indian Head cents were minted in the year 1876. It is an easier year to collect the proof because of this. Some of the issues this year are actually only proof on the obverse, a strange quality for a coin. This is because in some cases the reverse die was roughly polished. Strangely also is the fact that there are no known or at least collectible varieties known this year.

• Denomination: Cent
• Year: 1876
• Diameter: 19mm
• Mint Mark: N/A
• Thickness: 1.5mm
• Grade: Ungraded