Click to enlargeJ208/P253/P259

This is the so-called design of 1859 and is popular as a transitional issue. It was part of a 12 piece set which were sold to collectors by the Mint. To view the set, click here.

This is one of several patterns using the Indian head design. For some correspondence by Longacre regarding this obverse as a replacement for the flying eagle, click here and for description of the use of pointed feathers in the headdress, click here.

Examples was struck from 2 obverse and 2 reverse dies as follows: To compare both obverses side by side, click here. To view both reverses side by side, click here.

Copper nickel with low date with reverse with clusters of 5 leaves J208/P253 with about half a dozen known.

Copper nickel with low date with reverse with clusters of 6 leaves, the true transitional J208/P254 with about half a dozen known.

Copper nickel with centered date with reverse with clusters of 5 leaves J208/P259 which is very common and is the illustrated example.

Copper/Bronze with centered date with reverse with clusters of 5 leaves J209 & J210/P260 with about a half dozen known in total.

Copper nickel with centered date with reverse with clusters of 6 leaves, the true transitional J208/P261 with about half a dozen known.

Photo courtesy of PCGS.