1894 Indian Head Cent Misplaced Date FS-402 Snow-2

Description

This 1894 Indian Head cent displays a Misplaced Date variety cataloged as FS-402 in the Fivaz-Stanton attribution system and Snow-2 in Rick Snow's comprehensive Indian Head cent reference. The primary diagnostic for this variety is that the digits 94 were punched in the denticles below the date position, creating a secondary impression of these numerals in the border area. During die preparation in the 19th century, date punches were applied individually by hand into the working die, and an initial impression struck too low left the partial 94 in the denticle area before the punch was repositioned to the correct height for the final impression. Misplaced date varieties are among the most collectible Indian Head cent die varieties because they represent a visible and dramatic error in the die preparation process. The 1894 Indian Head cent was struck at the Philadelphia Mint in 95% copper and 5% tin and zinc, weighing 3.11 grams with a 19 mm diameter. Philadelphia produced 16,749,500 cents in 1894, a lower mintage that coincided with the economic depression of the mid-1890s. James Barton Longacre designed the Indian Head cent, which was introduced in 1859 and features Liberty wearing a feathered headdress on the obverse with an oak wreath and shield on the reverse. The FS-402 number and Snow-2 designation provide dual cataloging references, with the Fivaz-Stanton system being widely used in third-party grading service attributions and Snow's reference serving as the definitive specialized guide for Indian Head cent varieties. The visible 94 in the denticles is the key diagnostic that collectors should examine under at least 10x magnification to confirm this variety.

Attribution History

• FS-402, Snow-2