1870 PCGS F12 Shallow N FS-901 Eagle Eye Photo Seal

This 1870 Indian Head Cent, graded PCGS F12, is a scarce Shallow N variety (FS-901) and bears the coveted Eagle Eye Photo Seal for originality and quality. Even in this circulated grade, the coin shows strong detail in Liberty’s portrait and feather tips, with smooth, natural brown surfaces that attest to its originality. The diagnostics of the Shallow N—most notably the faintly cut serif on the “N” in ONE—are clear and bold. Fewer than 150 examples of the Shallow N variety are believed to exist across all grades, with only a handful certified by PCGS and NGC in the Fine range. That combination of variety rarity, authenticity pedigree, and eye appeal makes this piece a standout among advanced Indian Head cent collections.

The year 1870 was one of transition and rebuilding in the United States. The Civil War had ended just five years earlier, and the nation was rapidly industrializing, expanding railroads, and stabilizing its economy. The Indian Head cent was a workhorse coin of daily commerce, used everywhere from frontier trading posts to bustling Eastern cities. Few pieces survived without damage or cleaning, and even fewer of the elusive Shallow N subtype remain today. This coin is not just a collectible—it’s a living remnant of 19th-century America, combining rarity, history, and authenticity in one sharply attributed example.

16568762    1025B25