1863 Indian Head Penny Coin Value: Errors List & No Mint Mark Worth

1863 Indian Head Penny value ranges from $0.01 face value to $28,800. That record sale was a Grade 67 example sold through Heritage Auctions in November 2020. Upload a photo of yours below and find out exactly where it lands in that range. Recent eBay sales are listed below too — scroll down to see what collectors are actually paying right now.

 

1863 Penny Value By Variety

Several varieties exist for the 1863 Indian Head penny, and each one moves the needle on value.

If you know the grade of your coin, you can find the exact price below in the Value Guides section.

Also Read: Indian Head Penny Coin Value (1859-1909)

 

Top 10 Most Valuable 1863 Penny Worth Money

The king of the hill is an MS-67 that hammered at $28,800. Another MS-67 brought $24,000, and a third hit $21,150 at Heritage Auctions in January 2023. That’s three coins in the same grade all trading five figures — the top-pop market for this date is red hot.

Drop down to MS-65 and MS-66 territory and you’re still looking at $4,560 to $16,800. Heritage moved an MS-66 RD for $11,400 in April 2023. That original mint color is where the real money is. Even a solid MS-64 can clear $2,000.

Two DDR (Doubled Die Reverse) FS-801, S-10 coins also cracked the top ten. A DDR happens when the hub impresses the working die twice in slightly offset positions, leaving doubled details on the reverse. These sold for $1,560 in MS-62 and $1,150 in MS-64 — proof that error collectors will pay up even for mid-grade pieces.

Also Read: Indian Head Penny Coin Value (1859-1909)

 

History Of The 1863 Penny

The 1863 Indian Head penny rolled off the presses right in the thick of the Civil War. James Barton Longacre designed the series — he served as Chief Engraver from 1844 until his death in 1869. The Indian Head cent ran from 1859 to 1909, when the Lincoln cent replaced it on the 100th anniversary of Lincoln’s birth.

Longacre based the Liberty portrait on a classical sculpture — the Crouching Venus (also called Venus Acroupi), on loan to Philadelphia from the Vatican. He confirmed this himself in writing. You’ve probably heard the story about his 12-year-old daughter Sarah trying on a chief’s headdress at the Mint. Fun tale, but Sarah was actually 30 in 1858 when the design was created. Almost certainly a myth.

The Civil War created a brutal currency crisis. People hoarded gold first, then silver, then even copper-nickel cents. By 1863, The Bankers’ Magazine reported that the premium for cents in Philadelphia hit 20% above face value — people were paying more than a penny to get a penny. Merchants fought back by issuing roughly 9,000 different private token designs in 1863 alone.

Mint Director James Pollock noted in his October 1, 1863 report that the public just wanted convenient small change and didn’t care whether coins contained their full value in metal. That insight pushed the case for a cheaper bronze alloy. The nickel in the copper-nickel cents came almost entirely from Joseph Wharton’s mine in Gap, Pennsylvania — and by March 1864, the Mint had completely exhausted that supply.

President Lincoln signed the Coinage Act of 1864 on April 22, 1864, authorizing a thinner bronze cent and making base-metal coins legal tender for the first time. The act also killed private tokens. A follow-up law on June 8, 1864 (18 U.S.C. § 486) made minting private coins punishable by up to $2,000 in fines and five years in prison. That makes the 1863 copper-nickel penny the last full-year issue before this massive monetary shift.

Also Read: 54 Most Valuable Indian Head Penny Worth Money (1859-1909)

 

Is Your 1863 Penny Rare?

Here’s the part that trips people up: the 1863 had the *highest* mintage of all copper-nickel Indian cents at nearly 49.84 million. You’d think that makes it common. But in MS-65 or better, it’s actually *harder* to find than the lower-mintage 1860, 1861, and 1862 dates. Wartime production hammered the dies relentlessly, leaving more coins with weak strikes, mushy details, and bag marks than you’d expect from such a huge run.

Check the Coin Identifier and Value App to see exactly where your coin ranks among collectors.

 

Key Features of The 1863 Penny

The 1863 Indian Head penny shows Longacre’s Liberty wearing a Native American headdress — she’s a Caucasian personification of Liberty, not an actual Indigenous person. The copper-nickel composition (88% copper, 12% nickel) gives these coins a silvery look and a heft you can feel immediately compared to later bronze cents. Every 1863 penny came from the Philadelphia Mint. No mint mark.

The Obverse Of The 1863 Penny

Lady Liberty faces left, wearing a flowing Native American headdress. Look at the headband — “LIBERTY” is spelled out there, and it’s the first thing to wear away on circulated coins. That makes it your go-to grading checkpoint. On Extremely Fine or better pieces, every letter should be sharp and clearly separated.

Her hair flows behind the headdress, and she wears a pearl necklace. “1863” sits centered at the bottom, with “UNITED STATES OF AMERICA” curving around the upper rim. On well-worn examples, check Liberty’s cheek and the feather tips first — those are the highest points and show wear earliest.

The Reverse Of The 1863 Penny

Flip it over and you’ll see an oak wreath framing “ONE CENT” in the center, with a small heraldic shield sitting at the top. That shield was added in 1860 to replace the original laurel wreath. A bundle of arrows tied with a ribbon sits at the bottom. The wreath’s leaf veins and shield lines wear down first on circulated pieces.

No mint mark below the bow — Philadelphia didn’t use one. This oak-wreath-with-shield design stayed standard through the end of the series in 1909. On high-grade coins, look for individual diamonds inside the shield and distinct veining on each oak leaf.

Other Features Of The 1863 Penny

The 1863 penny measures 19.05 mm in diameter and weighs 4.67 grams — pick one up alongside a later bronze Indian cent at 3.11 grams and you’ll feel the difference immediately. It’s 1.55 mm thick with a plain edge. The copper-nickel alloy looks whitish or grayish when fresh, which earned these coins the nicknames “nicks” or “white cents.” Over time, they develop toning in shades of champagne, olive, and stone gray.

Philadelphia struck approximately 49,840,000 pennies in 1863 — the highest mintage of any copper-nickel Indian cent. But here’s the catch: the copper-nickel alloy shows every bag mark and scratch far more than bronze does. Truly pristine survivors are way rarer than that mintage suggests. PCGS has certified 312 examples in MS-65 with only 64 graded finer. That’s a tiny population for nearly 50 million coins.

Also Read: Top 100 Most Valuable Pennies Coin Worth Money List (1959 – Present)

 

1863 Penny Mintage & Survival Data

Nearly 49.84 million regular strikes left the Philadelphia Mint. About 10,000 survive today. That’s a 0.0201% survival rate — roughly one coin out of every 5,000 made it through 160+ years. The Mint ran dies nonstop to meet wartime demand, which left many coins weakly struck with blurred feathers and faint flow lines.

Proofs tell a completely different story. Of 460 struck, about 420 survive — a 91.3% survival rate. Collectors treated these as keepsakes from day one. There’s evidence that Civil War-era coins were already being collected as early as 1863.

The DCAM designation is where things get wild. As of the last published PCGS population report, only a single 1863 Indian Head cent had been certified in PR-65 DCAM. One coin. That’s a completely different kind of rare, even among 1863 proofs.

Also Read: Top 100 Most Valuable Wheat Pennies Coin Worth Money (1909 – 1958)

 

The Easy Way to Know Your 1863 Penny Value

Figuring out your 1863 penny’s value doesn’t need to be complicated. The fastest route is the Coin Identifier and Value App — it identifies your coin instantly and pulls up current market values based on condition.

Snap a clear photo of both sides. The app analyzes the grade, flags potential errors, and gives you a reliable value range. Works great whether you’re just starting out or getting ready to sell.

 

1863 Penny Value Guides

The 1863 Indian Head penny breaks down into four distinct types:

• 1863 No Mint Mark Penny — Regular circulation strikes from Philadelphia
• 1863 Proof Penny — Special mirror-like strikes for collectors
• 1863 CAM Penny — Cameo proof with frosted devices and mirror fields
• 1863 DCAM Penny — Deep Cameo proof with the strongest possible contrast

Regular strikes make up the vast majority of survivors — these were made for everyday pocket change. Proofs were struck with polished dies and planchets, giving them brilliant mirror surfaces. CAM proofs show frosted design elements against reflective fields — that frosty look comes from fresh dies early in production. DCAM proofs have the most dramatic contrast of all, appearing only on the very first strikes from brand-new proof dies.

Also Read: Value Of Old Pennies By Year (1959-Present)

 

1863 No Mint Mark Penny Value

How does a coin with nearly 50 million struck end up harder to find in gem condition than dates with far lower mintages? That’s the 1863 for you. This is the last full year of copper-nickel cent production before the 1864 switch to bronze, struck during the same year Lincoln signed the Emancipation Proclamation. The copper-nickel alloy (88% copper, 12% nickel) gives these coins that distinctive silvery “white cent” look and a noticeable weight advantage over later bronze pennies.

PCGS has certified only 312 examples in MS-65 with 64 graded higher. Compare that to the 1860, 1861, and 1862 — all lower mintages, all easier to find in gem grades. The wartime push to crank out coins wore dies down fast, producing more weak strikes, die fatigue, and contact marks across the entire 1863 run.

Auction results back this up. Heritage Auctions got $21,150 for an MS-67 in January 2023. Another MS-67 brought $28,800. An MS-66 RD sold for $11,400 at Heritage in April 2023 — that RD designation means the coin kept its original copper-nickel mint luster. Worth noting: the color designations (Red, Red-Brown, Brown) used for bronze Indian cents don’t apply the same way here. Grading services assess luster and surface quality rather than copper color on these white cents.

Let’s examine the auction records to see what top-grade specimens have achieved at major sales.

Beyond auction highlights, current market activity reveals strong collector interest in these Civil War-era treasures.

Market activity score: 86/100 as of Sep 2026 — up 23 points from Jun 2026. Currently at its 12-month peak.

 

1863 Proof Penny Value

Only 460 proof pennies were struck in 1863. Each one was hit multiple times with extra pressure using polished dies and hand-selected planchets. The result? Mirror-like fields with sharp, frosted details that make regular strikes look rough by comparison. Every feather tip, every wreath leaf — everything pops.

Over 91% of those 460 coins survive today. Collectors knew these were special from the start and treated them accordingly. The go-to reference for attributing 1863 proof die varieties is Richard Snow’s Flying Eagle & Indian Cent Attribution Guide, which catalogs specific specimens like the Snow-PR1 — a PR-65 DCAM that brought a top price at Stack’s Bowers in 2019. I think these remain some of the most underappreciated Civil War-era collectibles, especially pieces with strong eye appeal and original surfaces.

Let’s look at the auction records to see what premium examples have achieved at major sales.

Current market activity shows consistent collector demand for these beautifully crafted Civil War treasures.

Market activity score: 48/100 as of Sep 2026 — unchanged since Jun 2026. 12-month peak: 51 (Nov 2025).

 

1863 CAM Penny Value

A PR-66 CAM sold for $13,200 at Stack’s Bowers in August 2022. That’s the kind of premium cameo contrast commands on these coins. CAM — Cameo — is a designation from PCGS and NGC awarded when a proof coin shows frosted, white design elements against deeply mirrored fields. Fresh dies produce this effect early in a production run, before repeated striking wears the frost away.

Out of those 460 proofs minted in 1863, only a small fraction display enough contrast to earn the CAM label. High-grade CAM proofs are considerably scarcer than standard proofs, and registry set collectors chase them hard. If you’ve got a slabbed 1863 proof, look at the label — that CAM designation means real money.

The auction records demonstrate the premium collectors pay for these visually dramatic specimens.

Market activity reflects sustained demand for these standout examples of 1863 proof craftsmanship.

Market activity score: 55/100 as of Sep 2026 — up 12 points from Jun 2026. 12-month peak: 60 (Dec 2025).

 

1863 DCAM Penny Value

PCGS has certified exactly one 1863 Indian Head cent in PR-65 DCAM. One. That single coin tells you everything about how rare Deep Cameo contrast is on these proofs. DCAM requires even heavier frost than standard CAM — deeply frosted devices that look almost white against jet-black mirrored fields. Only the very first strikes from brand-new proof dies produce this effect.

Heritage Auctions sold a PR-65 DCAM in April 2017 for $15,275. Stack’s Bowers got an even higher price for the Snow-PR1 specimen in 2019. We consider these the ultimate prize in Civil War-era proof coinage — museum-quality pieces representing the absolute finest visual quality the Mint could achieve in 1863.

The auction records showcase the extraordinary premiums these rare specimens command.

Despite their extreme rarity, serious collectors actively pursue these treasures whenever they appear on the market.

Market activity score: 35/100 as of Sep 2026 — unchanged since Jun 2026. Currently at its 12-month peak.

Also Read: 42 Rare Penny Errors List with Pictures (By Year)

 

Rare 1863 Penny Error List

Most 1863 Indian Head pennies came out normal. But a handful left the Philadelphia Mint with errors that make them worth serious money today. These mistakes happened during hand-punched die preparation — workers physically punched dates and design elements into dies one at a time. The two key references for identifying 1863 errors are Bill Fivaz and J.T. Stanton’s Cherrypickers’ Guide to Rare Die Varieties and Richard Snow’s Flying Eagle & Indian Cent Attribution Guide.

1. 1863 RPD FS-301 S-2 (Repunched Date)

Grab a 5x–10x loupe and look closely at the date. On the FS-301 S-2, you’ll see faint traces of the original date positioning beneath or beside the final numbers. The mint worker punched “1863” into the die, didn’t like the placement, and punched it again — leaving ghost images of the first attempt.

This was common in the 1860s hand-punch process. The FS-301 designation comes from the Cherrypickers’ Guide. An 1863 RPD in MS-61 grade sold for $168 in 2022. The bolder and more visible the repunching, the higher the premium. This is a great cherrypicking target at coin shows.

2. 1863 MPD FS-302 (Misplaced Date)

Look at Liberty’s neck near the necklace area. See a raised lump? That’s part of the numeral “1” — you can tell because it’s straight and level, not rounded. Someone at the Mint accidentally punched a date digit in completely the wrong spot before correcting the placement below the portrait.

MPD errors are collector favorites because the mistake is so obvious and dramatic. An 1863 MPD graded AU-55 sold for $259 in 2016. The premium climbs fast when the misplaced element is bold enough to spot without heavy magnification.

3. 1863 DDR FS-801, S-10 (Doubled Die Reverse)

Flip the coin over and focus on the right side of the wreath. The FS-801, S-10 shows visible doubling on the wreath leaves — the hub impressed the working die twice in slightly offset positions during die creation. This is a die manufacturing error, not a striking issue. Fewer than five examples were known in high grades, making this one of the rarest 1863 varieties.

An 1863 DDR in MS-62 grade sold for $1,560 in 2023. For context, major DDO (Doubled Die Obverse) varieties — where doubling shows on LIBERTY, the date, or the portrait — can bring $3,000 to $4,000 in MS-63. Listed in The Cherrypickers’ Guide, this is a true trophy coin for error collectors.

4. 1863 Die Cap Error (Off-Metal Striking Error)

This is the showstopper. A planchet stuck to the obverse die and got struck multiple times, forming a cap shape around the die. The result is much larger in diameter and depth than a normal 1863 cent. It’s almost certainly unique.

Stack’s Bowers catalogued it in August 2020 as “undoubtedly unique and of incredible quality for such an important, early mint error.” The obverse shows strong details while the reverse is heavily distorted from multiple strikes, with “ONE CENT” appearing massive inside an enlarged wreath. Graded MS-65 by PCGS, this piece sold for $18,000 at the Stack’s Bowers auction on August 6, 2020, as reported by Coin World.

5. 1863 Off-Center Strike

Off-center strikes happen when the planchet isn’t seated properly during striking, shifting the design away from center. For 1863 pennies, a 10% off-center example runs about $350. A 15% off-center is worth roughly $495. Go 50% or more off-center while still showing the full date and you’re looking at $2,000 to $3,000. Check for proper edge formation on the struck portion and a “Blakesley Effect” — weakness directly opposite the clip — to confirm it’s genuine.

Also Read: 42 Rare Penny Errors List with Pictures (By Year)

 

Where to Sell Your 1863 Penny?

If you’ve determined your 1863 Indian Head penny has significant value, choosing the right selling platform is crucial for maximizing your return. Whether you have a common circulated coin or a rare proof specimen, different venues offer distinct advantages for sellers. For coins valued above $500, consider submitting to PCGS or NGC for authentication and grading before selling — certification consistently produces higher sale prices and protects buyers from counterfeits.

Check out now: Best Places To Sell Coins Online (Pros & Cons)

 

1863 Penny Market Trend

Market interest: 4,970 collectors tracking this coin as of Sep 2026 — up 900 from Mar 2026. Currently at its 12-month peak.

*Market Trend Chart showing the number of people paying attention to this coin.

 

FAQ About The 1863 Penny

1. What makes the 1863 Indian Head penny different from later pennies?

It’s the composition. The 1863 was struck in copper-nickel (88% copper, 12% nickel), giving it a silvery “white cent” look and a weight of 4.67 grams — noticeably heavier than the 3.11-gram bronze pennies that followed. This was the last full year of copper-nickel production before the Coinage Act of 1864 switched to bronze. That copper-nickel alloy shows every contact mark and scratch more than bronze does, so truly pristine examples are far rarer than the nearly 50 million mintage suggests.

2. How much is a typical 1863 Indian Head penny worth in 2026?

Condition is everything. Circulated examples in Good to Fine run $10 to $30. Extremely Fine pieces fetch $60 to $100. Uncirculated coins jump fast: MS-63 to MS-64 brings $150 to $500+, and MS-65 commands $1,000 to $5,000 depending on eye appeal. Top-grade MS-67 examples have sold for $20,400 (Heritage Auctions, 2021) and $28,800 at auction. Proofs start around $450, and rare Deep Cameo proofs can exceed $15,000.

3. Does my 1863 penny have a mint mark?

No. Every 1863 Indian Head penny was struck at the Philadelphia Mint, which didn’t use a mint mark during this era. If you see a coin dated 1863 with stars on it, that’s a Civil War token — a privately issued copper substitute from merchants. About 9,000 different private token designs were struck in 1863 alone. Congress outlawed them with the Coinage Act of April 22, 1864, and banned all private coinage on June 8, 1864.

4. What is the rarest and most valuable 1863 penny error?

The deep obverse die cap. It’s almost certainly unique — a planchet stuck to the obverse die and got struck multiple times, creating an oversized, cap-shaped coin. Graded MS-65 by PCGS, it sold for $18,000 at Stack’s Bowers in August 2020. Among catalogued varieties, the DDR FS-801, S-10 is extremely rare with fewer than five known in high grades; an MS-62 example sold for $1,560 in 2023. Major DDO varieties can bring $3,000 to $4,000 in MS-63.

5. Was the Indian Head penny portrait really modeled on a Native American?

Not even close. The portrait shows a Caucasian Liberty wearing a Native American headdress. Longacre himself said the face came from the Crouching Venus (also known as Venus Acroupi), a classical sculpture on loan to Philadelphia from the Vatican. The legend about his daughter Sarah trying on a chief’s headdress? She was 30 in 1858, not 12. Mint Director James Snowden explicitly denied in writing that the portrait was based on any Longacre family member.

6. What is a CAM or DCAM 1863 penny, and why is it more valuable?

CAM (Cameo) and DCAM (Deep Cameo) are designations from PCGS and NGC for proof coins with frosted, white-appearing devices against mirror-like fields. This contrast only shows up on the earliest strikes from fresh proof dies. CAM needs noticeable contrast; DCAM needs the most dramatic contrast possible. A PR-66 CAM 1863 penny sold for $13,200 at Stack’s Bowers in August 2022. DCAM is even rarer — PCGS has certified only a single 1863 cent in PR-65 DCAM — and a PR-65 DCAM sold at Heritage Auctions in April 2017 for $15,275.

7. How can I tell if my 1863 penny is genuine or a counterfeit?

Weigh it first: authentic 1863 Indian Head pennies come in at 4.67 grams (±0.1 gram). Hit it with a magnet — genuine copper-nickel coins won’t stick. Under 10x magnification, check that the “Y” in LIBERTY has correct serif details, feather tips show distinct separation, and denticles around the rim are even and crisp. Fakes often have mushy fine details, wrong weight, or off-looking surfaces. For coins worth $500+, buy only PCGS- or NGC-certified examples or submit yours for professional authentication.

8. Why is the 1863 so hard to find in gem condition despite its huge mintage?

This is one of the great paradoxes of the series. According to PCGS CoinFacts, the 1863 is the toughest copper-nickel Indian cent to find in MS-65 or better — tougher than the lower-mintage 1860, 1861, and 1862. The Mint was running flat out to meet wartime demand, burning through dies and producing a higher proportion of weakly struck coins with die fatigue and contact marks. The copper-nickel alloy also makes surface flaws more visible than bronze. PCGS has certified only 312 examples at MS-65 with 64 graded finer.

9. What key reference books should I use to identify 1863 penny varieties?

Two books cover you. The Cherrypickers’ Guide to Rare Die Varieties by Bill Fivaz and J.T. Stanton uses “FS” numbers to catalog varieties like the FS-301 RPD and FS-801 DDR. Richard Snow’s Flying Eagle & Indian Cent Attribution Guide covers proof varieties like the Snow-PR1 DCAM. Both help you spot premium varieties that get overlooked — and underpriced — in the general market.

10. Should I clean my 1863 Indian Head penny before selling it?

Never. Not even a gentle polish. Cleaning strips original surface metal, destroys natural toning, and leaves microscopic hairlines that grading services catch immediately. A cleaned coin gets a “details” or “improperly cleaned” label with no numerical grade — that can slash value by 50% to 90%. The original toning on a 1863 copper-nickel penny (champagne, olive, or stone-gray hues) is actually desirable to collectors. Store your coins in Mylar flips or acid-free albums at humidity below 50%.