1860 Pointed Bust Indian Head Penny Value: What Is It Worth in 2026?
⚠ Key date / rare varietyCopper-nickel "white cent" eraMintage: not recorded
Estimated value · Source: USACoinBook price guide (updated Feb 2026)
1860 Indian Head Penny · Pointed Bust
Mint: Philadelphia (no mint mark)
Worth selling
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) | $30 |
| Very Good (VG-8) | $43 |
| Fine (F-12) | $56 |
| Very Fine (VF-20) | $81 |
| Extremely Fine (XF-40) | $131 |
| About Uncirculated (AU-50) | $207 |
| Mint State (MS-63, uncirculated) | $721 |
Variety of the 1860 issue: the bust tip points directly at the left side of the '1' in the date, instead of between digits. Scarcer than the regular rounded bust.
See the full page for this coin (mintage, how to identify it, where to sell)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.