Price Guide for 1864 Cent Variants
This guide presents price ranges for variants from three sources: eBay sales, third-party auctions, and PCGS guides. Values are shown for various conditions, allowing collectors to compare across different market segments. Price estimates may vary between sources, especially for rarer variants.
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3rd Party PriceCirculated: $13.00 – $1,006.25Uncirculated: $127.00 – $4,080.00
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eBayCirculated: $12.00 – $525.00Uncirculated: $189.00 – $2,170.00
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PCGS Price GuideCirculated: $50.00 – $455.00Uncirculated: $470.00 – $5,000.00
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3rd Party PriceCirculated: $11.00 – $270.00Uncirculated: $31.00 – $5,760.00
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eBayCirculated: $5.50 – $498.39Uncirculated: $44.00 – $2,065.00
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PCGS Price GuideCirculated: $10.00 – $205.00Uncirculated: $210.00 – $4,500.00
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3rd Party PriceUncirculated: $374.00 – $129,250.00
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PCGS Price GuideCirculated: $8,250.00 – $8,500.00Uncirculated: $58,000.00 – $140,000.00
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3rd Party PriceCirculated: $12.00 – $675.00Uncirculated: $62.00 – $13,800.00
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eBayCirculated: $8.00 – $425.00Uncirculated: $69.00 – $3,400.00
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PCGS Price GuideCirculated: $14.00 – $250.00Uncirculated: $260.00 – $37,500.00
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3rd Party PriceCirculated: $219.00Uncirculated: $12.50 – $34,075.00
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eBayUncirculated: $1,149.75 – $3,500.00
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PCGS Price GuideUncirculated: $550.00 – $65,000.00
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3rd Party PriceCirculated: $253.00 – $432.00Uncirculated: $5.15 – $22,425.00
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eBayCirculated: $20.00 – $281.00Uncirculated: $105.70 – $2,300.00
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PCGS Price GuideUncirculated: $425.00 – $19,500.00
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3rd Party PriceUncirculated: $92.00 – $29,795.00
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eBayUncirculated: $249.00 – $4,187.00
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PCGS Price GuideUncirculated: $200.00 – $35,000.00
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3rd Party PriceUncirculated: $1.15 – $7,820.00
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eBayUncirculated: $950.00
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PCGS Price GuideUncirculated: $425.00 – $7,500.00
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3rd Party PriceCirculated: $109.00 – $495.00Uncirculated: $364.25 – $3,172.50
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eBayCirculated: $10.50 – $85.00Uncirculated: $469.99 – $3,419.99
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PCGS Price GuideCirculated: $100.00 – $410.00Uncirculated: $425.00 – $3,600.00
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3rd Party PriceCirculated: $20.00 – $139.00Uncirculated: $51.00 – $5,520.00
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eBayCirculated: $22.50Uncirculated: $135.50 – $2,199.00
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PCGS Price GuideUncirculated: $180.00 – $2,500.00
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3rd Party PriceCirculated: $41.00 – $288.00Uncirculated: $230.00 – $8,400.00
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eBayCirculated: $84.77 – $393.00Uncirculated: $274.36 – $4,092.00
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PCGS Price GuideUncirculated: $525.00 – $20,500.00
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3rd Party PriceCirculated: $329.00 – $518.00Uncirculated: $1,200.00
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eBayUncirculated: $1,036.00 – $1,425.00
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PCGS Price GuideCirculated: $30.00 – $665.00Uncirculated: $700.00 – $1,500.00
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3rd Party PriceUncirculated: $1,233.75
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PCGS Price GuideUncirculated: $675.00 – $1,750.00
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3rd Party PriceCirculated: $79.00 – $85.00Uncirculated: $168.00 – $990.00
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eBayCirculated: $68.00 – $225.00Uncirculated: $200.00 – $526.00
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PCGS Price GuideCirculated: $38.00 – $300.00Uncirculated: $325.00 – $1,000.00
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3rd Party PriceUncirculated: $282.00 – $930.00
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eBayUncirculated: $563.99 – $1,475.00
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PCGS Price GuideUncirculated: $375.00 – $1,350.00
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3rd Party PriceUncirculated: $2,243.00
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3rd Party PriceUncirculated: $312.00 – $504.00
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eBayUncirculated: $107.50 – $1,187.49
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3rd Party PriceUncirculated: $780.00
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eBayUncirculated: $461.00 – $1,872.50
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3rd Party PriceCirculated: $184.00 – $546.00Uncirculated: $600.00
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eBayCirculated: $35.00 – $670.00Uncirculated: $299.99 – $4,770.00
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PCGS Price GuideCirculated: $50.00 – $560.00Uncirculated: $600.00 – $1,400.00
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3rd Party PriceUncirculated: $528.00 – $3,290.00
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eBayCirculated: $34.00 – $500.00Uncirculated: $422.00 – $1,645.00
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PCGS Price GuideUncirculated: $625.00 – $2,000.00
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3rd Party PriceCirculated: $192.00 – $312.00
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eBayCirculated: $145.00 – $214.00
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PCGS Price GuideCirculated: $50.00 – $505.00Uncirculated: $550.00 – $1,175.00
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3rd Party PriceUncirculated: $978.00
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eBayUncirculated: $810.00
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PCGS Price GuideUncirculated: $650.00 – $8,000.00
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3rd Party PriceCirculated: $98.70 – $588.00Uncirculated: $384.00 – $6,000.00
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eBayCirculated: $94.87 – $350.00Uncirculated: $749.95 – $750.00
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PCGS Price GuideCirculated: $100.00 – $600.00Uncirculated: $625.00 – $6,250.00
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3rd Party PriceUncirculated: $540.50 – $1,725.00
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eBayUncirculated: $710.00 – $1,099.00
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PCGS Price GuideUncirculated: $650.00 – $1,400.00
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3rd Party PriceUncirculated: $1,770.00 – $2,232.50
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PCGS Price GuideUncirculated: $1,250.00 – $2,750.00
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3rd Party PriceCirculated: $116.00 – $840.00Uncirculated: $377.30 – $446.50
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eBayCirculated: $42.00 – $500.00
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PCGS Price GuideCirculated: $75.00 – $560.00Uncirculated: $575.00 – $1,100.00
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eBayUncirculated: $2,750.00
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PCGS Price GuideUncirculated: $600.00 – $2,150.00
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3rd Party PriceCirculated: $94.00 – $376.00Uncirculated: $376.00 – $960.00
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eBayCirculated: $77.50 – $285.00
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PCGS Price GuideCirculated: $100.00 – $515.00Uncirculated: $550.00 – $1,400.00
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3rd Party PriceUncirculated: $960.00 – $1,880.00
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PCGS Price GuideUncirculated: $750.00 – $2,150.00
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3rd Party PriceUncirculated: $31,200.00
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PCGS Price GuideUncirculated: $1,250.00 – $34,000.00
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3rd Party PriceCirculated: $211.50 – $252.00Uncirculated: $403.00 – $805.00
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eBayCirculated: $58.00 – $203.49
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PCGS Price GuideCirculated: $70.00 – $525.00Uncirculated: $550.00 – $1,250.00
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3rd Party PriceUncirculated: $930.00 – $1,234.00
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eBayCirculated: $169.99
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PCGS Price GuideUncirculated: $635.00 – $1,400.00
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3rd Party PriceUncirculated: $12,075.00
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PCGS Price GuideUncirculated: $11,000.00 – $12,500.00
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3rd Party PriceUncirculated: $561.00 – $13,200.00
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eBayUncirculated: $1,299.00 – $1,650.00
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PCGS Price GuideUncirculated: $450.00 – $25,000.00
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3rd Party PriceUncirculated: $1,762.50 – $12,925.00
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PCGS Price GuideUncirculated: $1,900.00 – $12,500.00
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3rd Party PriceUncirculated: $409.00 – $17,625.00
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eBayUncirculated: $2,750.00
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PCGS Price GuideUncirculated: $1,500.00 – $14,000.00
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3rd Party PriceUncirculated: $1,495.00 – $25,300.00
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eBayUncirculated: $3,283.00
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PCGS Price GuideUncirculated: $500.00 – $20,000.00
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3rd Party PriceUncirculated: $2,300.00 – $28,750.00
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PCGS Price GuideUncirculated: $1,600.00 – $37,500.00
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3rd Party PriceUncirculated: $2,990.00 – $19,200.00
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PCGS Price GuideUncirculated: $21,000.00
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3rd Party PriceUncirculated: $31,900.00 – $161,000.00
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PCGS Price GuideUncirculated: $22,500.00 – $165,000.00
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3rd Party PriceUncirculated: $63,250.00 – $141,000.00
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PCGS Price GuideUncirculated: $50,000.00 – $125,000.00
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3rd Party PriceUncirculated: $84,000.00 – $152,750.00
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PCGS Price GuideUncirculated: $72,500.00 – $175,000.00
Design and Specifications of the 1864 Cent
The 1864 Indian Head Cent marks a significant transition in U.S. coinage. This year saw a change in composition from copper-nickel to bronze, resulting in two distinct varieties. The switch was made to address the coin shortage during the Civil War, as the new bronze composition was cheaper to produce and not hoarded like the previous copper-nickel cents.
The lighter bronze cents were easier to strike and showed better detail. This change helped alleviate the coin shortage and marked the beginning of the bronze cent era that would continue for nearly a century.
| Weight | 3.11 grams |
|---|---|
| Diameter | 19 mm |
| Mint Marks | No mint mark (Philadelphia) |
| Composition | 95% copper, 5% tin and zinc (bronze) |
| Obverse Design | Indian Head, designed by James Barton Longacre |
| Reverse Design | Oak wreath and shield, designed by James Barton Longacre |
Rarity Factors and Value Drivers
The condition of 1864 Indian Head Cents significantly impacts their value. High-grade examples are particularly desirable, especially for the copper-nickel variety, which had a shorter production run. Coins with full strike details, especially on the feathers and diamonds in the headdress, command premium prices.
Red (RD) examples, retaining original mint luster, are highly sought after and valuable. Brown (BN) examples are more common, while Red-Brown (RB) coins fall in between in terms of desirability and value.
Mintage: 39,233,714
Rarity Scale: Common
Circulation Status: Widely Circulated
Preservation Rarity: Scarce in grades MS65 and above, especially for the copper-nickel variety
Varieties Errors: Copper-Nickel composition (early 1864), Bronze composition (later 1864), Some bronze cents with 'L' on ribbon (designer's initial)
Market Demand: High, due to historical significance and transitional year status
The 1864 ‘L’ on Ribbon variety, where Longacre’s initial appears on the lower ribbon of the headdress, is particularly valuable and sought after by collectors. This variety was introduced later in the year and is scarcer than the non-L variety.
Die varieties and errors, such as repunched dates or misplaced digits, can add significant value. The transitional nature of this year’s coinage, with both copper-nickel and bronze compositions, makes it interesting to collectors and can affect value based on the specific variety.
Original, problem-free surfaces without cleaning or damage are crucial for maximum value, especially in higher grades. Attractive, natural toning can also enhance desirability among collectors.
