Purchased this Semi Key Indian Head Cent.

jfriedm56 · July 27, 2026 4:03AM

Just added this 1864 L on ribbon, bronze IHC to the collection. This coin represents a life long search for a coin I could only imagine ever owning when I first started collecting IHCents 50 years ago. A difficult coin to find in MS65 R/B as the PCGS population report shows only 124 pieces graded in this category with 29 coins graded higher.
This T/V actually makes the coin look much darker than it is, as in hand, it’s at least 90% red.
Also, the reverse is rotated about 45 degrees and interestingly as I was looking on eBay I came across an exact match with same rotation as my new purchase. Anyone who collects this series have any insight in the rotation for this date? Appreciate any info. Zack

ajaan · July 27, 2026 4:29AM

Great looking RB Zack, a lot of red in that one.

jesbroken · July 27, 2026 4:34AM

Nice coin Zack. Great pickup.
Jim

MFeld · July 27, 2026 5:30AM

That’s a good looking coin, Zack.
I see quite a few of them with rotated dies. I checked the Heritage archives (in order of most recent sales first) and 3 out of the first 10 examples exhibited rotated dies.

https://coins.ha.com/c/search/results.zx?term=1864-L&si=2&dept=1909&archive_state=5327&sold_status=1526&coin_category=3862&coin_category_child=4633&mode=archive&page=204~1&sb=5&ic4=SortBy-071515

291fifth · July 27, 2026 6:01AM

That coin is at the high end of the red-brown spectrum. Very nice coin!

Copperindian · July 27, 2026 6:48AM

Zack! I ❤️ it! A real beauty & loaded with RD! Sending you a PM.
Ken

jfriedm56 · July 27, 2026 7:29AM

@MFeld said:
That’s a good looking coin, Zack.
I see quite a few of them with rotated dies. I checked the Heritage archives (in order of most recent sales first) and 3 out of the first 10 examples exhibited rotated dies.

https://coins.ha.com/c/search/results.zx?term=1864-L&si=2&dept=1909&archive_state=5327&sold_status=1526&coin_category=3862&coin_category_child=4633&mode=archive&page=204~1&sb=5&ic4=SortBy-071515

Thanks Mark. I figured it might be pretty common as I’ve found others with similar rotations. I suppose the set up people didn’t tighten the set screw properly or the press operator never checked it either.
Zack.

LeeBone · July 27, 2026 7:49AM

Very nice Indian

Goob · July 27, 2026 7:52AM

Very beautiful IHC, congrats on the purchase!

johnny9434 · July 27, 2026 7:57AM

cool coin

The_Dinosaur_Man · July 27, 2026 8:02AM

Rotated dies for both 1864-L IHC and 1864 Two Cent pieces are very, very common. It's as if there was a war going on and there weren't enough experienced personnel around.