1869 Indian Head Cent Repunched Date FS-302 Snow-1

Description

Cataloged as FS-302 and Snow-1, this 1869 Indian Head cent displays a notable repunched date in which both the "1" and the "8" were struck into the die a second time in a slightly offset position, producing the characteristic "18 over 18" doubling that collectors have long associated with this variety. A repunched date results from the hub or individual digit punches being applied more than once at slightly different angles or positions before the die enters service; when the coin is struck, the ghost impression of the earlier punch is frozen into the metal. The 1869 Indian Head cent is a semi-key date in the series, with a business-strike mintage of just 6.4 million pieces — modest by the standards of the era and reflective of post-Civil War economic contraction. The bronze alloy (95% copper, 5% tin and zinc) used from 1864 onward gives circulated examples a warm reddish-brown tone. FS-302 and Snow-1 together identify this as a confirmed, documented variety, making it a logical target for specialists assembling a complete set of Indian Head cent die varieties.

Attribution History

• FS-302, Snow-1