1906 Indian Head Penny Value Guides (rare errors and no mint marks) (2023)

Do you know what the design of the coin was before it had the profile of Abraham Lincoln? If not, you're in luck, because this blog post will cover everything you need to know about what is known as the Indian Head penny, specifically the year 1906.

The value of a 1906 Indian head penny is exceptionally high in some cases and is considered a collector's item. So if you have one, you'll want to keep reading to find out the value of the 1906 Indian head penny, some of its features, as well as some of the rarer error pennies to be minted this year.

Without further ado, let's take a look at this coin!

History of the value of the 1906 Indian head penny

As the United States of America celebrated its 130th year of independence, the 1906 Indian Head cent was minted. Let's learn a little about the history of this interesting coin.

The Indian Head penny is one of the most valuable coins of the early 20th century and earlier. It has a face value of one penny, but can be worth much more depending on its condition and rarity.

First issued in 1859, these coins feature an Indian head on the obverse and a laurel wreath on the reverse. Over time there have been different errors of several cents, which increase the value of certain coins.

The design of the Indian head cent was created by the principal engraver of the Philadelphia United States Mint site, James Barton Longacre. Born and raised in Pennsylvania, he has previously created designs for several gold one-dollar coins, as well as a twenty-dollar coin and a three-dollar coin, among others. After a penny design of his that included an eagle proved too difficult to mint, he quickly created another design: the head of an Indian girl wearing the ceremonial hat.

There is some doubt as to who modeled the Indian head, but most believe it was Sarah, the daughter of James Barton Longacre, who would have been around 12 at the time. The coin was originally created from a composition of copper and nickel, but by 1906, these coins had already been composed of copper, tin, and zinc for a few decades.

It was produced until 1909, thirty years after Longacre's death in 1869, when it was replaced by Victor David Brenner's iconic Lincoln Cent to commemorate Abraham Lincoln's centennial.

Characteristics of the 1906 Indian Head Penny

Now that you know a bit about the history of the 1906 Indian Head coin, let's take a look at some of its features, including the design on the obverse and reverse, the composition of the metal, the absence of a mint mark, and its size. and weight. .

The obverse of the 1906 Indian Penny Head coin

The 1906 Indian Head coin has a unique design on both sides. On the obverse (front) side, you will find an Indian head with a ceremonial feathered headdress in its hair. As mentioned above, this design is believed to have been inspired by Longacre's own daughter, Sarah.

Her regal chin is boldly raised and turned to the left, while a pearl necklace encircles her neck. The word "LIBERTY" is written on the bonnet band that encircles the girl's head, similar to many coin designs of the same era that include "LIBERTY" on Lady Liberty's crown.

To its left is the phrase "UNITED STATES" and to its right is the phrase "OF AMERICA." Below is the date, “1906”. The edge of the coin is ribbed for a more elegant and classic feel.

The reverse of the 1906 Indian Penny Head coin

The reverse (reverse) of the 1906 Indian Head Penny features a laurel wreath surrounding the words "One Cent" in the center.

The laurel wreath rotates to the top, where it stops on the image of a shield in the top center of the coin. At the bottom center, the laurel wreath is tied with a ribbon. A group of arrows are also attached to indicate the strength of the United States.

Again, the edges of the coin are fluted, as is the front.

Other Features of the 1906 Indian Head Penny

In addition to the coin design, there are other features that you should be aware of.

metallic composition

The 1906 Indian Head coin is composed of copper (95%) and tin and zinc (5%). As we discussed earlier, the Indian Head coin was originally made up of copper and nickel, but this changed around the time of the American Civil War. The Indian Head coin remained composed of copper, tin, and zinc for the remainder of its existence.

I like the brand

Unlike other coins from this era, this particular penny does not have a mint mark, meaning it came from the Philadelphia Mint headquarters. Many coins come from various minting places; however, the 1906 Indian Head penny was minted only in Philadelphia.

size and weight

The 1906 Indian Head coin is 19 millimeters in diameter and weighs 3.11 grams, like other later coins.

Value of the 1906 Indian head penny coin

Finally, let's talk about the value of your 1906 Indian Head penny – the moment you've been waiting for.

The value of a 1906 Indian coin will depend on its condition. The condition of a coin is graded on a scale of "good", "excellent", "extremely good", and even "uncirculated". Coins in better condition will be rarer and therefore more valuable, especially a coin as old and iconic as the 1906 Indian Head coin.

Let's see the value below.

1906 "No Mintmark" Indian Head Penny Coin Value

As mentioned, the 1906 Indian Head coin was minted in Philadelphia, USA, and has a mintage value of 96,020,530 coins. That's almost 1 million coins produced that year. These coins are worth a little more than their face value of one cent.

In good condition, a 1906 Indian Head penny can be worth around $2.28, and in good condition, the same coin can be worth around $5.13, which is quite a jump. If you have a 1906 Indian Head coin that is in very good condition, you might find it worth around $11, and if you have an uncirculated 1906 Indian Head coin, you might have a coin worth around from $11.42 up to $60 depending on how perfect the grade is.

You may even get lucky: If you find a 1906 coin in mint condition, as one person did, you may be able to sell it for thousands of dollars at auction. This particular person sold his uncirculated penny for a staggering $23,000!

1906 Indian Head Penny Value "Proof"

It is important to note that the 1906 Indian Head coins were also produced in a "Proof" version.

You may be wondering what a proof coin is. In case you haven't heard this term yet, it means coins that were made especially for collectors and not for commercial transactions like the typical minted coin. Proof coins usually have a mirror finish and are usually slightly more valuable than their "non-proof" counterparts.

Like the "no mintmark" pennies of 1906, the Proof Indian Head pennies were struck in Philadelphia. Normally between 1,000 and 3,000 Indian Head Proof cents were minted each year, and by 1906 there were 1,725 ​​minted, so not many.

That is why the value of test pennies increases significantly. For example, a 1906 Indian Head Proof penny is said to be worth around $160. And if you try to sell a near mint one at auction like one person did, you could walk away with $21,000!

Talk about a game changer!

Related Post: 19 Most Valuable Indian Heads Worth Money

1906 Indian Head Error Coins

There are some rare misshapen coins to be found from this year that significantly improve the value of the 1906 Indian coin. Mistakes can include (but are not limited to) double-strike coins or off-center strike misses where part of the drawing is not fully visible.

These coins are valuable because they are so rare and some can be worth thousands of dollars depending on their condition!

So if your 1906 Indian Head coin looks a bit odd or odd, it might be worth taking a look at as you might have a very valuable error coin on your hands.

Let's take a look at some of the 1906 Indian Head pennies that have sold at auction recently.

1906 Indian Headed Penny double strike with flip error

One of the most well-known errors that can be found on Indian Head pennies is a double-hit error in which the coin was struck twice by a die. This one is even more interesting though as it not only gets hit twice but also flips before being hit a second time. This means that if you look closely at the girl's face, you can barely make out the outline of the word "ONE", which is supposed to be on the opposite side of the coin.

This 1906 Indian Head double strike and flip error coin sold at auction for over $690! Not bad for a penny!

Compare this to another double-struck 1906 Indian Head penny that sold for just $20 at auction. This is because the grade of this particular coin was very low - it would have sold for much more if it had been in better condition.

1906 Indian Head Penny with date error repaginated

This 1906 Indian Head penny has an interesting error known as a "stretched date", which means that the date on the coin was struck twice, one on top of the other, causing one to be misaligned.

This type of error can add a lot of value to the Indian Head penny, but only if your coin is in near mint condition. One was classified as an extremely fine coin and sold for around $20 at auction. Another was listed for sale in near mint condition and sold for $2,500 at auction, and yet another sold for $2,800 at auction!

While errors definitely increase the value of these coins, the condition of the coin is what makes the biggest difference.

frequent questions

You may have some questions about the 1906 Indian Head penny. Let's look at some of them:

Where can I find a 1906 Indian coin?

You can find one at a coin shop or coin show, but it can be hard to find. If you're willing to pay a little more, you can also buy one online on eBay or another reputable coin dealer. Other than that, you might find one in your pocket, but it's highly unlikely!

If I find a 1906 Indian coin, do I have to clean it before appraising it?

No! Cleaning a coin can damage it and significantly decrease its value, so it's best to leave coin cleaning to experts. Most coins found in pocket coins have circulated at some point, so they may appear a bit dull or dirty; this is perfectly normal.

Conclusion

The 1906 Indian coin is a valuable coin with a lot of history behind it. It is highly sought after for its low mintage and possible errors. The value of the penny depends on its state, with uncirculated coins being the most valuable.

If you're lucky enough to find one in your pocket or at auction, it's definitely worth adding to your collection. Or if it appears to be in very good condition, it might be worth sorting through and reviewing for any potential bugs that could significantly increase its value! Good luck!

Have you ever seen an Indian Head penny in person? Do you have any? Let us know in the comments below!