1861 Proof

The 1861 proof Indian Head cent was struck in a mintage of approximately 1,000 coins, continuing the Mint's regular proof production even as the Civil War began. The proof program represented a small, steady revenue stream for the Mint and served a collector community that, despite the war, continued to purchase proof sets. Collecting did not stop because the country was fighting; if anything, the uncertainty of the times may have increased some collectors' desire to preserve examples of current coinage.

The 1861 proof is struck on the copper-nickel planchet with the full Oak Wreath and Shield reverse. The bright, reflective surfaces of the copper-nickel alloy give the proof a silvery appearance that photographs distinctively. Surviving 1861 proofs are scarce but available to collectors who monitor the market. The coin represents the Mint's commitment to proof production through the early war years.