Lot 1173
1903. PCGS graded Proof 65 Red. CAC Approved. Deep mirrors with outstanding eye appeal. Eagle Eye Photo Seal. Only 1,790 struck. Pop 39; 41 finer, 30 in 66, 11 in 67. (PCGS # 2398)
Historic Note: According to a recent Coin World article by Paul Gilkes, "Numismatic lore suggests that Longacre's daughter, Sarah, at the age of 12, became the inspiration for the Indian Head obverse, when, while she visited her father's workplace at the same time a group of Native Americans were visiting the Philadelphia Mint, she tried on one of their headdresses. However, that piece of legend was debunked decades later.
"At the time Longacre was sketching designs for the Indian Head cent obverse, Sarah was 30 years old, not 12. According to Snow [Flying Eagle and Indian Head cent specialist], the Indian headdress for the cent was inspired by those worn by members of the Chippewa nation in the Lake Superior area and not from some chance encounter at the Mint."
So it is a Chippewa-type headdress that is perched on Liberty's left-facing portrait that makes this "Indian" head such a charming and original design. Estimated Value $750 - 850
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| Realized $949 |
