1909 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) | $12 |
| Very Good (VG-8) | $19 |
| Fine (F-12) | $21 |
| Very Fine (VF-20) | $25 |
| Extremely Fine (XF-40) | $30 |
| About Uncirculated (AU-50) | $38 |
| Mint State (MS-63, uncirculated) | $103 |
The last Philadelphia Indian Head cent — and 1909 is the year the Lincoln cent replaced it. Saved in large numbers, so it is the most affordable 'last year of issue' coin in the hobby.
See the full page for this coin (mintage, how to identify it, where to sell)1909 Indian Head penny — no mint mark?
Your 1909 Indian Head penny has no letter on it — and that is correct. Every Indian Head cent was struck at the Philadelphia Mint, which did not mark its coins. The only Indian Head pennies with a mint mark are the 1908-S and 1909-S, which carry a small S under the wreath on the back. No letter anywhere means Philadelphia, so the price table above is exactly the one to use.
In worn condition that puts your coin around $12, rising to $103 in uncirculated mint state. This year also has variety versions — check the related links below.
The most affordable "last year of issue" in coin collecting
The 1909 Philadelphia Indian Head cent closed a 50-year design run — and unlike most final-year coins, it is cheap. Over 14 million were struck, and because everyone in 1909 knew the design was ending, enormous numbers were saved. A worn example costs a few dollars; even uncirculated coins are within reach of most collectors.
That combination — historic significance, last-of-series status, and genuine affordability — makes the 1909 Indian Head the classic 'first old coin' purchase. If you found one in a jar or inherited a small collection, it is a wonderful coin to keep, even if it will never fund a vacation.
One thing to check before you move on: flip it over. If the reverse shows two wheat stalks instead of a wreath and shield, your 1909 is actually the first-year Lincoln wheat penny — a different series entirely, covered in the wheat penny section of this site.
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.