1872 Indian Cent. Bold N. MS-64 RD (PCGS). CAC. Glowing orange-rose surfaces sport full, vivid mint color and lively satin luster. Well struck, we note sharp detail to virtually all design elements. One of the leading condition rarities in the Indian cent series, the 1872 boasts a relatively limited mintage of 4,042,000 circulation strikes. This figure can be explained by limited commercial demand for cents during the Reconstruction era. Pursuant to the Act of March 3, 1871, the Treasury redeemed and melted 5,635,999 bronze cents in 1872 (along with 5,751,073 copper-nickel cents), thereby reducing banks stocks of coins that were not needed in circulation. This redemption policy continued through 1881, many of the circulation strikes produced in 1872 meeting a similar fate in subsequent years. Since bank reserves were a primary source for Mint State examples for many classic U.S. Mint issues, it is little wonder that relatively few Uncirculated 1872 cents survived. When offered in Mint State at all, the 1872 is apt to be poorly struck with little to no original color. As a sharply defined, full red near-Gem, the significance of the present example can hardly be overstated. PCGS# 2105. NGC ID: 227W. CAC Population: 6; 7.
