1886 Type 1 Indian Head Penny Value: What Is It Worth in 2026?
Mintage: not recorded
Estimated value · Source: USACoinBook price guide (updated Feb 2026)
1886 Indian Head Penny · Type 1
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) | $12 |
| Very Good (VG-8) | $19 |
| Fine (F-12) | $30 |
| Very Fine (VF-20) | $92 |
| Extremely Fine (XF-40) | $123 |
| About Uncirculated (AU-50) | $249 |
| Mint State (MS-63, uncirculated) | $344 |
Type 1 of 1886: the lowest feather of the headdress points between the I and C of AMERICA. Scarcer than Type 2.
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.
- 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.