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1886 Type 1
| Weight | 3.11 g |
| Diameter | 19 mm |
| Mint | Philadelphia |
| Strike | Circulation strike |
| Mintage | 17,654,290 Combined mintage for all 1886 varieties |
| Edge | Plain |
| Alignment | ↑↓ Coin |
| Composition | 95% Copper, 5% Tin & Zinc |
| Melt value | — |
| Designer | James B. Longacre |
| Collector's Key ID | CK-370 |
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The 1886 Type 1 Indian Head cent is distinguished by the position of the last feather on Liberty's headdress. On Type 1, the feather points between the letters I and C in AMERICA on the reverse. The distinction from Type 2 (where the feather points between C and A) was created by a minor repositioning of the obverse design relative to the reverse during the year's die production. Both types were struck from the same basic design but from differently aligned die pairs.
The Type 1/Type 2 distinction is unique to 1886 in the Indian Head series and makes the date a two-coin requirement for variety collectors. The feather position is identifiable on coins in Fine or better, where enough of the headdress and reverse lettering survive to confirm the alignment. On heavily worn coins, the distinction can be ambiguous.
The 1886 Type 1 is somewhat less common than the Type 2, and it carries a premium in most grades. The total 1886 mintage was approximately 17.7 million coins, split between the two types. Neither is rare, but the Type 1's lower survival rate relative to the Type 2 sustains a consistent price differential.
Reference data only — not an appraisal.
| Grade | Description | Low | High |
|---|---|---|---|
| G-4 | Good (G) | $8 | $9 |
| VG-8 | Very Good (VG) | $12.50 | $14.50 |
| F-12 | Fine (F) | $19.50 | $23 |
| VF-20 | Very Fine (VF) | $60 | $69 |
| EF-40 | Extremely Fine (EF) | $80 | $92 |
| AU-50 | About Uncirculated (AU) | $162 | $187 |
| MS-60 | Uncirculated (MS) | $183 | $210 |
| MS-63 | Choice Uncirculated (MS) | $290 | $310 |
How much is a 1886 Type 1 Indian Head Cent worth?
How many 1886 Type 1 Indian Head Cents were minted?
What is a 1886 Type 1 Indian Head Cent made of?
What is the melt value of a 1886 Type 1 Indian Head Cent?
Is the 1886 Type 1 Indian Head Cent a key date?
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