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Indian Head Cent pickups - guess the grades - all are going to go to PCGS this week

redraiderredraider Posts: 304 ✭✭✭✭✭
edited October 7, 2025 6:23AM in U.S. Coin Forum

I am posting these all in one thread to not clog the forum with 15 different new topics...

I was at a local show over the weekend and the first dealer I stopped by had just purchased some Indian Head Cents which I immediately bought from him at a $5/coin mark up. It's rare that a small collection like this turns up, and I do wonder if the seller had a relative that pulled these from circulation many, many years ago. I think all 5 1885s came from the same die pair, two of the 1887s appear to be from the same dies, and three of the 1890s were struck from the same dies as evidenced by a small die crack on the reverse. I will point these out as they get posted.

These are all going to go to PCGS for grading. I am going to be posting them here in this thread individually over the next couple of days and would love to hear your thoughts on the grades.

15 total Indian Head Cents were bought and the prices paid for each one:
1885 - 5 - $60 each
1886 Type 2 - 1 - $50
1887 - 3 - $25 each
1888 - 1 - $25
1890 - 5 - $30 each

I don't see these as grading spectacularly high, but they all seem very Choice AU(RB) to Mint State (probably 63-64 for most). They definitely all look original to me.

Here is the first coin:
1885 #1

Comments

  • pcgsregistrycollectorpcgsregistrycollector Posts: 1,997 ✭✭✭✭✭

    Those are honestly decent deals in my opinion.

    Proud follower of Christ!

  • redraiderredraider Posts: 304 ✭✭✭✭✭

    @pcgsregistrycollector said:
    Those are honestly decent deals in my opinion.

    I absolutely thought the same....I think they were underpriced. These 1885s could have all gone for more than $100 each.

  • redraiderredraider Posts: 304 ✭✭✭✭✭
    edited October 6, 2025 2:58PM

    1885 #2

  • redraiderredraider Posts: 304 ✭✭✭✭✭

    1885 #3

  • RampageRampage Posts: 9,526 ✭✭✭✭✭

    I only see three coins pictured, but best of luck with the grades. Keep us posted.

  • redraiderredraider Posts: 304 ✭✭✭✭✭

    @Rampage said:
    I only see three coins pictured, but best of luck with the grades. Keep us posted.

    Yep....still posting them.
    1885 #4

  • redraiderredraider Posts: 304 ✭✭✭✭✭

    1885 #5
    Interesting.....a closer look at all of these makes me think they were all struck with the same die pair as well.

  • redraiderredraider Posts: 304 ✭✭✭✭✭
    edited October 7, 2025 5:47AM

    1886 - Type 2 - pretty mushy strike on this one.

  • redraiderredraider Posts: 304 ✭✭✭✭✭
    edited October 7, 2025 6:15AM

    1887 - #1 - The first 2 1887s were struck with the same dies as well. There are die cracks that match on both sides.

  • redraiderredraider Posts: 304 ✭✭✭✭✭

    1887 - #2

  • redraiderredraider Posts: 304 ✭✭✭✭✭

    1887 - #3

  • redraiderredraider Posts: 304 ✭✭✭✭✭

    1888 - might have the ever so slightest rim clip @ 3. Might be a planchet flaw as well, not quite sure.

  • 291fifth291fifth Posts: 24,767 ✭✭✭✭✭
    edited October 7, 2025 7:01AM

    Overall a nice group of Indian Cents. Don't send 1885 #5 in as it is corroded on the obverse and will not straight grade. I would not send in the mushy 1886 either. I don't know what they will grade it but, regardless, the mushy strike will make it a hard sell.

    All glory is fleeting.
  • redraiderredraider Posts: 304 ✭✭✭✭✭

    1890 - #1

  • redraiderredraider Posts: 304 ✭✭✭✭✭

    1890 - #2 - a little spotty

  • redraiderredraider Posts: 304 ✭✭✭✭✭

    1890 - #3

  • TypekatTypekat Posts: 573 ✭✭✭✭✭

    It’s very cool to pick up a nice original group of coins that have been together for 135 years or so.

    30+ years coin shop experience (ret.) Coins, bullion, currency, scrap & interesting folks. Loved every minute!

  • redraiderredraider Posts: 304 ✭✭✭✭✭

    1890 - #4

  • jedmjedm Posts: 3,190 ✭✭✭✭✭

    Very nice buy! I really like the '85s, they seem to be the best looking of the bunch to my eye.

  • redraiderredraider Posts: 304 ✭✭✭✭✭

    1890 - #5

  • redraiderredraider Posts: 304 ✭✭✭✭✭

    @Typekat said:
    It’s very cool to pick up a nice original group of coins that have been together for 135 years or so.

    I do think these have been together since they were pulled directly from circulation. Ive noticed that the 1885s all seem to have been from the same die pair, 2 of the 1887s are from the same pair, and 3 of the 1890s are from the same pair.

    The odds of those coming together at different times are very, very slim.

  • 291fifth291fifth Posts: 24,767 ✭✭✭✭✭
    edited October 7, 2025 10:50AM

    1890 #2 & #4 both seem to have some corrosion on the obverse. I would not send them in for slabbing. 1890 #1 & #3 would probable get a mint state grade if slabbed.

    It is a most unusual lot as all of them appear to be original coins that have been stored together for a very long time, possibly since shortly after they were first issued.

    All glory is fleeting.
  • MEJ7070MEJ7070 Posts: 195 ✭✭✭✭

    There appears to be a slew of future 58s coming from back from our hosts from what you’ve posted so far.

    Nice group of original IHCs for sure.

  • Morgan13Morgan13 Posts: 1,786 ✭✭✭✭✭

    Nice group of coins. They all have nice eye appeal. I would have bought them too!

    Student of numismatics and collector of Morgan dollars
    Successful BST transactions with: Namvet Justindan Mattniss RWW olah_in_MA
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  • CopperindianCopperindian Posts: 2,580 ✭✭✭✭✭

    Hi Jonathan - first of all, a fabulous pickup! I’m terrible @ guessing grades, but I do think most are at some level of AU.
    I have to disagree with the post about not submitting the 1886. As you know, many of the V2’s had mushy strikes. Yours is a bit more than usual, however.
    Good luck with the submission & CONGRATS!
    Ken

    “The thrill of the hunt never gets old”

    PCGS Registry: Screaming Eagles
    Copperindian

    Retired sets: Soaring Eagles
    Copperindian
    Nickelodeon

  • DMWJRDMWJR Posts: 6,080 ✭✭✭✭✭

    Nice post!

    Doug
  • 291fifth291fifth Posts: 24,767 ✭✭✭✭✭
    edited October 8, 2025 1:18PM

    I wonder if all of those coins came from a mechanical bank for 1 cent coins that remained unopened in a family for 125 or more years.

    All glory is fleeting.
  • tradedollarnuttradedollarnut Posts: 20,247 ✭✭✭✭✭

    Lotta 63s, couple of 64s, a 61 and a body bag. Cool group

  • Coins3675Coins3675 Posts: 651 ✭✭✭

    I think you got a deal on those.

  • redraiderredraider Posts: 304 ✭✭✭✭✭

    @291fifth said:
    I wonder if all of those coins came from a mechanical bank for 1 cent coins that remained unopened in a family for 125 or more years.

    This seems like a logical assumption. Not sure how they were stored, but some of these were plucked out of circulation at the exact same time. First time I have seen a small hoard of originals that seem to be pulled directly from the era.

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