1871 Shallow N Indian Head Penny Value: What Is It Worth in 2026?
⚠ Key date / rare varietyMintage: ~3.9 million struck
Estimated value · Source: USACoinBook price guide (updated Feb 2026)
1871 Indian Head Penny · Shallow N
Mint: Philadelphia (no mint mark)
Get it graded
Getting this graded by PCGS or NGC before selling usually pays off. Authentication matters: the 1877, 1909-S, and 1864-L are among the most faked cents in the hobby.
Value by condition
| Good (G-4, heavily worn) | $186 |
| Very Good (VG-8) | $265 |
| Fine (F-12) | $376 |
| Very Fine (VF-20) | $498 |
| Extremely Fine (XF-40) | $721 |
| About Uncirculated (AU-50) | $929 |
| Mint State (MS-63, uncirculated) | $1,243 |
An 1871 Indian Head cent struck at the Philadelphia (no mint mark) mint — an early bronze issue — mintages were modest and survivors in nice grades are genuinely scarce.
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.
- The N varieties refer to the letter N in ONE CENT on the reverse: compare its depth and shape with reference photos — Shallow N looks faint, Bold N deeply cut.
- 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.