1865 Indian Cent. Fancy 5. MS-66+ RD (PCGS). CAC. This stunning premium quality Gem is as close to perfection as one will see in a PCGS-certified Mint State 1865 cent. Blazing pinkish-orange surfaces are intensely lustrous with a smooth, satiny texture throughout. Fully struck, as well, with extraordinary preservation and eye appeal.<p>This second year bronze Indian cent issue has a mintage of 35,429,286 circulation strikes, a generous total that suggests that there was still a great need for new cents to rectify the coinage shortage in the East and Midwest created by the withdrawal of gold, silver and copper-nickel coins that began early in the Civil War. As an issue the 1865 is readily obtainable in Mint State, although with the quality and eye appeal offered here it is a condition rarity. As one of the finest examples known to PCGS, in fact, this lovely coin is sure to have no difficulty finding its way into an impressive Indian cent set.<p>Rick Snow (2014) estimates that 20 million of the circulation strike 1865 cents produced are of the Fancy 5 variety.
