1909. Proof 65 Red. CAC Approved. An attractive specimen with splendid golden color on both sides. Only 2,175 struck. Housed in an Old Style Holder.
Pop 17; 10 finer in 66. How Proof Indian Cents were made: After the dies are hubbed and the date is applied, the die is given multiple polishes with progressively finer and finer polish. The last polish given to the dies prior to being hardened gives the field a surface quite like a mirror. This is the deepest mirror attainable on the dies. When the die is hardened, the metal shrinks slightly creating a wavy effect on the polished surfaces. It looks somewhat like the surface of an orange. When you see orange peel on a Proof issue you can be sure that it is one of the first examples struck from those dies. Later polishing to the already hardened dies will produce a flatter and shallower mirror. Estimated Value $800 - 850
Indian Head Cents
