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1881 1c MS BN

Greysheet & CPG® Values
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1881 1c MS BN
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The 1881 Indian Cent has a high mintage of over 39 million making it very common. Circulated coins are extremely common and accessible. In order for uncirculated coins to be scarce and valuable there must be some, if not complete, red coloring. The finest gems can be very rare.

Obverse Description

A portrait bearing the likeness of a Native American in full headdress framed by the words UNITED STATES OF AMERICA around the periphery. The date is centered at the bottom under the portrait.

Reverse Description

The reverse bears the denomination of ONE CENT in the center surrounded by a wreath bearing a ribbon with arrows tied in at the bottom center.

Catalog Information

GSID: 1356
Designer: James B. Longacre
Obverse Designer: James B. Longacre
Obverse Lettering: UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, 1881
Reverse Designer: James B. Longacre
Reverse Lettering: ONE CENT
Weight (gr): 3.11 gr
Weight (oz): 0.11 oz
Strike Type: Business
Diameter: 19
Coin Shape: Round
Edge: Plain
Coin Date: 1881
Denomination: 1c
Designation: MS
Mint Location: Philadelphia
Mintage: 39,208,000
Coinage Type: Indian Head Cent
Coinage Years: 1864-1909
Composition: 95% copper; 5% zinc & tin
PCGS #: 2139
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Coin Value History
1881 1c MS BN
Value By Grade
1881 1c MS BN
CPG (retail) values
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Values

Greysheet & CPG® Values
GSID:1356 PCGS:2139 Shop related

Values

Greysheet & CPG® Values
Greysheet & CPG® Values by grade for 1881 1c MS BN
Grade CAC CPG Value (Retail) Greysheet Price (Wholesale)
MS66 CAC $725.00 $1,234
MS66 - $575.00 $1,234
MS65 CAC $1,234 $1,234
MS65 - $1,234 $1,234
MS64 CAC $1,234 $1,234
MS64 - $1,234 $1,234
MS63 CAC $1,234 $1,234
MS63 - $1,234 $1,234
MS62 CAC $1,234 $1,234
MS62 - $1,234 $1,234
MS61 CAC $1,234 $1,234
MS61 - $1,234 $1,234
MS60 CAC $1,234 $1,234
MS60 - $1,234 $1,234
AU58 CAC $1,234 $1,234
AU58 - $1,234 $1,234
AU55 CAC $1,234 $1,234
AU55 - $1,234 $1,234
AU53 CAC $1,234 $1,234
AU53 - $1,234 $1,234
AU50 CAC $1,234 $1,234
AU50 - $1,234 $1,234
XF45 CAC $1,234 $1,234
XF45 - $1,234 $1,234
XF40 CAC $1,234 $1,234
XF40 - $1,234 $1,234
VF35 CAC $1,234 $1,234
VF35 - $1,234 $1,234
VF30 CAC $1,234 $1,234
VF30 - $1,234 $1,234
VF25 CAC $1,234 $1,234
VF25 - $1,234 $1,234
VF20 CAC $1,234 $1,234
VF20 - $1,234 $1,234
F15 CAC $1,234 $1,234
F15 - $1,234 $1,234
F12 CAC $1,234 $1,234
F12 - $1,234 $1,234
VG10 CAC $1,234 $1,234
VG10 - $1,234 $1,234
VG8 CAC $1,234 $1,234
VG8 - $1,234 $1,234
G6 CAC $1,234 $1,234
G6 - $1,234 $1,234
G4 CAC $1,234 $1,234
G4 - $1,234 $1,234
AG3 CAC $1,234 $1,234
AG3 - $1,234 $1,234

Related Items

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Auction Prices

Recent public sale records for this item
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1881 1C -- Recolored -- ANACS Details. MS60 Details. Mintage 39,211,575. ...
1881 1C -- Recolored -- ANACS Details. MS60 Details. Mintage 39,211,575. ...
$149
Sold 9/1/2026
Heritage Auctions
1881 1C MS64 Brown PCGS. CDN: $120 Whsle. Bid for NGC/PCGS MS64. Mintage 39,211,575. ...
1881 1C MS64 Brown PCGS. CDN: $120 Whsle. Bid for NGC/PCGS MS64. Mintage 39,211,575. ...
$144
Sold 8/18/2026
Heritage Auctions
1881 Indian Cent. AU-53 (PCGS).
1881 Indian Cent. AU-53 (PCGS).
$65
Sold 8/6/2026
Stack’s Bowers Galleries
1881 Indian Cent. Unc Details--Cleaned (NGC).
1881 Indian Cent. Unc Details--Cleaned (NGC).
$80
Sold 7/1/2026
Stack’s Bowers Galleries
1881 1C MS63 Brown PCGS. CDN: $78 Whsle. Bid for NGC/PCGS MS63. Mintage 39,211,575. ...
1881 1C MS63 Brown PCGS. CDN: $78 Whsle. Bid for NGC/PCGS MS63. Mintage 39,211,575. ...
$139
Sold 6/22/2026
Heritage Auctions
1881 Indian Cent. MS-65 BN (PCGS).
1881 Indian Cent. MS-65 BN (PCGS).
$264
Sold 10/27/2025
Stack’s Bowers Galleries
1881 Indian Cent. MS-62 BN (NGC).
$144
Sold 3/13/2024
Stack’s Bowers Galleries
1881 1c NGC AU58
1881 1c NGC AU58
$65
Sold 7/4/2022
DLRC
1881 1C Indian Cent -- Struck 15% Off Center -- XF45 NGC. ...
1881 1C Indian Cent -- Struck 15% Off Center -- XF45 NGC. ...
$438
Sold 4/4/2022
Heritage Auctions
1881 1c PCGS XF Details (Environmental Damage)
1881 1c PCGS XF Details (Environmental Damage)
$23
Sold 5/11/2020
DLRC
1881 1c PCGS F15
1881 1c PCGS F15
$20
Sold 11/18/2019
DLRC
1881 1C MS66 Brown PCGS. CAC. PCGS Population: (3/0). NGC Census: (2/0). Mintage 39,211,576. ...
1881 1C MS66 Brown PCGS. CAC. PCGS Population: (3/0). NGC Census: (2/0). Mintage 39,211,576. ... CAC approved
$528
Sold 12/26/2017
Heritage Auctions
1881 1C AU55 NGC. NGC Census: (1/165). PCGS Population (2/83). Mintage: 39,211,576. Numismedia Wsl. Price for NGC/PCGS coin...
1881 1C AU55 NGC. NGC Census: (1/165). PCGS Population (2/83). Mintage: 39,211,576. Numismedia Wsl. Price for NGC/PCGS coin...
$45
Sold 9/27/2009
Heritage Auctions
1881 1C AU50 NGC. NGC Census: (1/155). PCGS Population (2/65). Mintage: 39,211,576. Numismedia Wsl. Price for NGC/PCGS coin...
1881 1C AU50 NGC. NGC Census: (1/155). PCGS Population (2/65). Mintage: 39,211,576. Numismedia Wsl. Price for NGC/PCGS coin...
$39
Sold 8/19/2007
Heritage Auctions
1881 1C MS61 Brown ANACS. Repunched Date, Snow-2....
$86
Sold 9/26/2005
Heritage Auctions
1881 1C -- Recolored -- ANACS. MS60 Details. NGC Census: (0/356). PCGS Population (3/92). Mintage: 39,211,576. Numismedia Ws...
1881 1C -- Recolored -- ANACS. MS60 Details. NGC Census: (0/356). PCGS Population (3/92). Mintage: 39,211,576. Numismedia Ws...
$38
Sold 1/24/2012
Heritage Auctions
1881 Indian Cent. MS-64 BN (PCGS).
1881 Indian Cent. MS-64 BN (PCGS).
$168
Sold 1/29/2025
Stack’s Bowers Galleries
1881 Indian Cent. AU Details--Cleaned (PCGS).
1881 Indian Cent. AU Details--Cleaned (PCGS).
$40
Sold 4/22/2026
Stack’s Bowers Galleries
1881 Indian Cent. MS-63 BN (PCGS).
1881 Indian Cent. MS-63 BN (PCGS).
$100
Sold 1/28/2026
Stack’s Bowers Galleries
1881 Indian Cent. MS-65 BN (PCGS).
1881 Indian Cent. MS-65 BN (PCGS).
$504
Sold 3/27/2023
Stack’s Bowers Galleries
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