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1859 Proof
| Weight | 4.67 g |
| Diameter | 19 mm |
| Mint | Philadelphia |
| Strike | Proof |
| Mintage | 800 |
| Edge | Plain |
| Alignment | ↑↓ Coin |
| Composition | 88% Copper, 12% Nickel |
| Melt value | — |
| Designer | James B. Longacre |
| Collector's Key ID | CK-308 |
Collection
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No additional varieties recorded for this strike.
External references
The 1859 proof Indian Head cent is the first proof of the series and the only proof with the Laurel Wreath reverse. The Mint struck approximately 800 proofs for sale to collectors, a figure that reflects the growing demand for proof coins in the late 1850s. The collector market had expanded from a handful of buyers in the 1830s to a community with its own publications, dealers, and auction houses. The 1859 proof was produced to serve that market.
The proof is struck on the same copper-nickel planchet as the circulation issue, but with polished dies and additional striking pressure. The mirrored fields show the Laurel Wreath reverse in its full detail, a design that would be replaced the following year and never used again. The one-year-type status of the reverse makes the 1859 proof a dual-interest coin: collectors want it both as a proof and as the only proof with this specific reverse design.
Reference data only — not an appraisal.
| Grade | Description | Low | High |
|---|---|---|---|
| PR-63 | Proof (PR) | — | — |
How many 1859 Proof Indian Head Cents were minted?
What is a 1859 Proof Indian Head Cent made of?
What is the melt value of a 1859 Proof Indian Head Cent?
Is the 1859 Proof Indian Head Cent a key date?
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