1861 Indian Cent. MS-66 (PCGS). Charming premium Gem surfaces sport lovely toning in iridescent reddish-apricot and powder blue, the colors bolder on the obverse. Both sides are fully struck with intense luster in a smooth, satiny texture. With only 10,100,000 circulation strikes produced, the 1861 boasts the lowest mintage among copper-nickel Indian cents. Perhaps understandably, this is the scarcest date of its type, the paucity of survivors also explained by the wholesale redemption and melting of examples during the 1870s. Even so, Mint State survivors are fairly plentiful in an absolute sense, due to hoarding of copper-nickel cents during the Civil War. Few such coins are as close to perfection as this impressive upper end Gem, however, which fact is sure to result in spirited competition for this offering among discerning collectors. From the Silver Springs Collection.
