1859 Laurel Wreath No Shield Indian Head Penny Value: What Is It Worth in 2026?
Worth selling individually: list it on eBay or offer it to a local coin dealer. Grading fees would eat the profit at this level, so sell it as-is.
Value by condition
| Good (G-4, heavily worn) | $19 |
| Very Good (VG-8) | $25 |
| Fine (F-12) | $38 |
| Very Fine (VF-20) | $69 |
| Extremely Fine (XF-40) | $154 |
| About Uncirculated (AU-50) | $269 |
| Mint State (MS-63, uncirculated) | $997 |
The first Indian Head cent — a one-year design with a laurel wreath and no shield on the reverse. Every later year added the shield, which makes 1859 instantly recognizable and a favorite type-coin purchase.
See the full page for this coin (mintage, how to identify it, where to sell)A one-year design you can spot from across the room
The very first Indian Head cent, 1859, is the only year without a shield on the reverse: the denomination ONE CENT sits inside a simple laurel wreath, with no shield above it. In 1860 the Mint added the shield and switched to an oak wreath, and that design ran unchanged to 1909. This makes 1859 a 'type coin' — collectors building a set of every major U.S. coin design need exactly one 1859, and that steady demand keeps prices firm.
Despite its status, the 1859 is not rare: over 36 million were struck, and a worn example is one of the more affordable 150-year-old American coins you can buy. The value climbs steeply with condition, because most were heavily circulated during the Civil War era.
How to confirm it's genuine
- The date is on the obverse below the portrait. Only 1908-S and 1909-S carry a mint mark (under the wreath on the reverse) — every other year is Philadelphia with no mark.
- Coins of 1859–1864 are copper-nickel: paler in color, slightly thicker. Bronze began partway through 1864 — the color difference is visible at a glance.
- Never clean the coin: cleaning destroys the original surface and can cut the value in half.
- For any coin worth more than $200, PCGS/NGC grading fees (~$20–50) are money well spent.
Where to sell this coin
- eBay works best in the $1.00–$200 range. Take clear photos of both sides in natural light, and put the year, variety, and approximate grade in the title.
- A local coin dealer is the fastest way to cash out, but expect 60–70% of guide prices. Common-date Indian Head pennies sell well by the roll or in mixed lots.
- Graded high-value coins do best at auction houses like Heritage Auctions or Stack's Bowers, where realized prices are public.