1871 Proof Indian Head Cent Misplaced Date

Description

The 1871 Proof Indian Head Cent Misplaced Date is characterized by the 1 of the date touching the 7 — the same configuration documented on the 1871 business strike FS-301, indicating a shared punch placement between proof and circulation-strike dies for this date. Proof Indian Head Cents were struck at the Philadelphia Mint in small quantities for sale to collectors; the 1871 Proof mintage was only 960 pieces, making this one of the more demanding dates in the Proof Indian Head Cent series for both availability and variety attribution. The Indian Head Cent, designed by James Barton Longacre and produced from 1859 through 1909, carries Liberty in an Indian headdress on the obverse with a laurel wreath and denomination on the reverse. Proof examples are distinguished by mirrored fields, sharply defined devices, and squared rims. The 1-touching-7 characteristic is visible under moderate magnification where the right upright of the 1 contacts or overlaps the left edge of the 7 — a result of the date logotype entered too far right in the die. At a mintage of 960, this variety is a rare survivor from a key Proof Indian Head Cent date.