1861 Indian Cent - 1861 1c Indian PCGS MS64. Deep Die Cap. This Mint state Civil War dated deep die cap 1861 Indian Cent is the shape of a thimble or bottle cap. The coin shows mint luster remaining in protected areas. The obverse strike is strong because of the many strikes the piece endured. Four rims are noted on the outer edge. In addition, the high walls of the cap confirm that it lasted for many strikes. There are also numerous striation marks radiating outward caused by the spread of the coin. The reverse, which also retains much of its luster, has its image significantly enlarge to take up most of the surface. Only a small portion of the wreath, bow, and shield are visible. The obverse shows a couple of minor spots in front of the portrait, mentioned for the sake of accuracy, which attest to the coins originality.

A capped die takes place when a coin fails to eject from the striking chamber and sticks to the die as it retracts. It actually creates a layer over the die and is called a die cap. With each successive strike, the die cap wraps itself around the shaft of the die to create the thimble or bottle cap shape. As the cap continues up the shaft, the reverse design enlarges as it spreads.

James B. Longacre designed the Indian Cent. The obverse shows Liberty facing left in profile wearing a LIBERTY inscribed headdress. Her hair is combed back and over her ear and flows down beneath the truncation. A band with four diamonds is attached to the back of the headdress and comes over her hair past the truncation. She is surrounded with the inscription UNITED STATES OF AMERICA with the date below. The reverse shows the denomination written as ONE CENT surrounded by an oak wreath with a Union shield at the top and a ribbon holding the parts of the wreath and three arrows together below. Dentils are around the periphery of both sides of the coin, and the edge is plain.

When Longacre first came to work at the Mint, he was opposed by Franklin Peale, the Chief Coiner. Peale was probably responsible for some blundered dies that Longacre was criticized for making. Peal was involved in a private, illegal medal manufacturing business using Mint facilities. He was concerned that this new political appointee would interfere with his business, and he resisted Longacres appointment as Chief Engraver. In the end Peale was found out and fired in 1854. Longacre flourished in his position and was responsible for creating many new designs including the Indian Head cent, the two cent piece, the Shield nickel, the Liberty Head gold dollar, the Indian Princess gold dollar, the three dollar gold piece, and the Liberty Head double eagle.

Error coin are not listed in the grading services population reports; however, it is safe to assume that there are few Mint state, capped die Indian cents with Civil War dates.