Most Valuable Indian Head Pennies

Not all Indian head pennies are valuable, but some sure are! Pixabay
What can you buy for a penny these days? Absolutely nothing. Since most sellers now take cards, almost all coins, let alone old pennies, end up in forgotten jars or at the bottoms of purses. If you’re thinking about doing away with pennies altogether, though, triple-check that you don’t have a rare one because those can go for up to 38,000 times their original value.
With quite a taboo name, Indian Head pennies, aka Indian Head cents, are some of the most expensive pennies to date. That’s because these rare coins were only produced by the U.S. Bureau of the Mint from 1859 to 1909. James Barton Longacre, former chief engraver at the Philadelphia Mint, likely had no idea how valuable his design would be, but it certainly stands out from the Lincoln cent that followed.
So which Indian Head pennies are worth money? These are the most valuable Indian Head pennies, from least to most expensive.
37. 1895 Indian Head Cent

Penny value: $172
* All of the coin values listed came from USA Coin Book, unless otherwise noted.
Bottom Line: 1895 Indian Head Cent

A worn, 1895 Indian Head Penny won’t buy you more than a gallon of gas by today’s standards, but proof coins are worth saving. Each one is worth upwards of $172.
The reason it’s not worth more? It’s not quite as rare as some other coins on this list or valuable collectibles in general. Over 38 million were minted, so there’s a better chance of finding one of these not-too-rare pennies.
Bottom Line: 1885 Indian Head Cent

Penny for your thoughts? This rare Indian Head penny has no mint mark or defining features. It doesn’t look like anything special, but it is.
Proof coins can be worth over $165, and those in uncirculated mint condition can be worth more than $220. Nice!