1872 Indian Cent. Bold N. MS-66 RB (PCGS).Offered here is a key date bronze Indian cent in exceptional premium Gem Mint State preservation. The satiny surfaces exhibit speckled golden-brown patina to dominant light orange color. The strike is bold to sharp throughout, and the appearance is as pristine as would be expected for the assigned grade.One of the leading condition rarities in the Indian cent series, the 1872 has a relatively small 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 meted 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, the 1872 is apt to be poorly struck with little to no original color. As a sharply defined, appreciably lustrous Gem, the present example is truly significant.PCGS Population: 12; 0 finer in this category.
