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1872 1C Indian Cent - Type 3 Bronze PCGS MS64RB (CAC) PCGS #2104 Grading ServicePCGS GradeMS64 Mint LocationPhiladelphia Year1872 DesignationRB StrikeBusiness Grade Add OnCAC 1872 1C Indian Cent - Type 3 Bronze PCGS MS64RB (CAC) 1872 1C, RB SKU: 37233431
A highly appealing near-Gem 1872 Indian Cent, certified PCGS MS64RB and further endorsed by CAC.
This Philadelphia Mint bronze cent represents the Type 3 Indian Head design introduced in 1864 with the pointed bust truncation. The obverse features Liberty facing left, wearing a Native American headdress inscribed LIBERTY, with UNITED STATES OF AMERICA encircling and the date 1872 below. The reverse displays the denomination ONE CENT in two lines within a wreath of oak leaves, tied with a ribbon at the base, with a Union shield centered above. The type remains one of the most collected and instantly recognizable issues in the entire American small cent series.
The present example is sharply original in appearance, with warm reddish-brown color and pleasing underlying mint luster visible across both sides. The strike is solid for the issue, with clear definition in Liberty’s portrait, headdress details, and the reverse wreath. Surfaces are notably well preserved for the assigned grade, showing the clean, attractive presentation expected of a CAC-approved Mint State piece. The eye appeal is strong, with a balanced blend of remaining red and mellow brown patina that gives the coin an especially handsome and natural look.
The 1872 Indian Cent is a famous better-date issue in the series and is widely regarded as one of the important semi-key dates among business-strike Indian cents. Although its mintage of 4,042,000 pieces is not low by absolute 19th-century standards, surviving Mint State examples are significantly more elusive than many nearby dates, particularly with this level of originality and certification quality. Indian cents have long enjoyed broad collector demand thanks to their historic Civil War-era origins, classic Longacre design, and the challenge of assembling high-grade date sets.
Certified examples at this level are decidedly collectible. PCGS reports a population of 247 in MS64RB, with just 126 finer, confirming that this piece occupies an important upper tier for the date. The added CAC approval further distinguishes the coin in today’s quality-conscious market, signaling solid to premium status within the grade and enhancing its desirability for registry participants and advanced type or date collectors alike.
An attractive, certified, and CAC-approved 1872 Indian Cent that offers the ideal combination of better-date status, original color, and near-Gem preservation.
