U.S. Penny | Civil War

From 1793 to 1857, the cent was a large copper coin, about the size of an American half dollar. In 1858, the design of the coin was switched to be smaller and more practical, creating the famous Indian head penny. During the Civil War, Americans hoarded this coin for its nickel content, a metal whose price skyrocketed as a result of the war. 

You will receive an Indian head penny minted by the Union between the years 1861 and 1865. 

Ancient Artifacts guarantees the Authenticity of items sold through a three layer system of protection: 

1. Ancient Artifacts exclusively sources artifacts from trusted and reputable antique distributors, many of whom have been selling Artifacts for decades.  
2. Next, the Artifact is inspected by an expert team member, who is professionally trained in counterfeit detection After the artifact passes inspection, the Certificate of Authenticity is signed and the Artifact is packaged. 
3. Finally, Ancient Artifacts gives an additional layer of protection by promising a full refund with no questions asked, in the extremely unlikely event that a counterfeit slips through our vetting process.

Your Civil War Penny will look very similar to the one shown in the photos. There will always be some variety, given our items are unique historical artifacts. The display case included is openable so that you may easily handle and closely observe the artifact.If for whatever reason you get anything that does not fit this description you are entitled to your money back! 

U.S. pennies minted during the Civil War (1861–1865) were mass-produced as part of the broader effort to stabilize and modernize the nation's currency during a time of economic upheaval. These coins, primarily made of bronze or copper-nickel, were critical to commerce in an era when hoarding of precious metals caused shortages of silver and gold coins. The most notable penny of this period is the Indian Head cent, introduced in 1859, which was struck in large quantities throughout the war. The U.S. Mint relied on steam-powered presses to produce these coins efficiently, ensuring a steady supply for circulation even amidst the challenges of the conflict.

Owning Civil War-era pennies today is possible because of their durability, mass production, and the fact that they were widely used across the Union. The transition to copper-nickel (and later bronze in 1864) helped mitigate the effects of precious metal shortages and ensured the coins’ longevity. Many pennies from this era were kept in circulation or saved by individuals after the war, particularly because they held little intrinsic metal value and were not hoarded like silver and gold coins. These factors, combined with the historical significance of the Civil War, have made them popular among collectors.