1860 Indian Cent Tribute – A Familiar Design at a Larger Scale

The feathered Liberty portrait and wreath-and-shield reverse of the Indian Head cent are familiar sights to generations of American coin collectors. This modern 1860 tribute presents that design in 2 troy ounces of .999 fine silver, preserving its recognizable character while giving the details room to stand out on a 39 mm round.

The Second Year Brought a Change

The Indian Head cent replaced the Flying Eagle design in 1859 and continued through 1909. Designed by James Barton Longacre, its obverse portrays Liberty wearing a feathered headdress—an allegorical figure that gave the series its established collecting name.

The 1860 date marks an important early revision. The original 1859 laurel-wreath reverse gave way to an oak wreath topped by a small shield. That addition created the reverse most collectors associate with the long-running series. Early examples of the historical cent were copper-nickel coins, making the fine-silver composition of this modern tribute a distinctly different presentation of the design.

Design Details

Obverse: Liberty wears a feathered headdress, with “UNITED STATES OF AMERICA” following the outer circumference and the date below. The portrait combines the traditional personification of Liberty with the ornamental headgear characteristic of Longacre’s design.

Reverse: A wreath encloses the central “TWO OUNCE” inscription, with the small shield above recalling the change introduced in 1860. The weight wording identifies the modern silver tribute in place of the original cent denomination.

The contrast between the detailed portrait and the neatly framed reverse is part of the design’s lasting appeal. For collectors who first encountered it in a small-cent album, the enlarged silver format offers another way to appreciate the familiar arrangement.

Specifications

• Weight: 2 troy ounces
• Purity: .999 fine silver
• Diameter: 39 mm
• Thickness: Approximately 6 mm
• Edge: Reeded
• Finish: Brilliant Uncirculated

Explore more classic designs in our silver round collection.