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1874
| Weight | 3.11 g |
| Diameter | 19 mm |
| Mint | Philadelphia |
| Strike | Circulation strike |
| Mintage | 14,187,500 |
| Edge | Plain |
| Alignment | ↑↓ Coin |
| Composition | 95% Copper, 5% Tin & Zinc |
| Melt value | — |
| Designer | James B. Longacre |
| Collector's Key ID | CK-346 |
Collection
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No additional varieties recorded for this strike.
External references
The 1874 Indian Head cent was produced in a mintage of approximately 14.2 million coins, a notable increase over the sub-10-million outputs of the late 1860s and early 1870s. The higher figure reflected improving economic conditions and growing demand for small-denomination coinage as the Reconstruction era gave way to the industrial expansion of the Gilded Age. The 1874 is more available than the semi-key dates that preceded it.
The coin circulated during a period of rapid urbanization and industrialization. The panic of 1873, which had triggered a severe economic depression, was still affecting the economy in 1874. Unemployment was high, wages were falling, and the copper cent was often the coin in a worker's pocket at the end of the day. A cent bought a newspaper. A few cents bought bread.
Reference data only — not an appraisal.
| Grade | Description | Low | High |
|---|---|---|---|
| G-4 | Good (G) | $19.50 | $23 |
| VG-8 | Very Good (VG) | $33 | $38 |
| F-12 | Fine (F) | $53 | $61 |
| VF-20 | Very Fine (VF) | $60 | $69 |
| EF-40 | Extremely Fine (EF) | $94 | $108 |
| AU-50 | About Uncirculated (AU) | $135 | $155 |
| MS-60 | Uncirculated (MS) | $183 | $210 |
| MS-63 | Choice Uncirculated (MS) | $290 | $310 |
How much is a 1874 Indian Head Cent worth?
How many 1874 Indian Head Cents were minted?
What is a 1874 Indian Head Cent made of?
What is the melt value of a 1874 Indian Head Cent?
Is the 1874 Indian Head Cent a key date?
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