A Guide Book of Flying Eagle and Indian Head Cents: Complete Source for History, Grading, and Prices [Paperback]

Richard Snow (Author), Q. David Bowers (Introduction), Tom DeLorey (Foreword)

Book Description

Publication Date: February 2009

By Richard Snow, Foreword by Tom DeLorey & Introduction by Q. David Bowers. Flying Eagle and Indian Head cents, minted from 1856 to 1909, were once the most popular, most widely circulated, most plentiful coins in everyday American life. Just about every kid had a pocketful of "Indian pennies," and older folks used them as well. Several of them could buy a newspaper, or candy, or a streetcar ride. Drop a cent into the slot, turn the crank, and you would be dazzled by an automobile racing around a track, or a boxing match, or a vaudeville show. Indian Head cents were anywhere and everywhere. Now, in the fully updated 2nd edition of A guide book of Flying Eagle and Indian Head Cents, Rick Snow examines these beautiful coins by date, mintage, production, survivability, collecting challenges, and variety. His research is bolstred by the usual high-quality Bowers Series treatment: an engaging overview of the series by the "dean of American numismatics." Q. David Bowers; high-quality photographs in full color; market values in multiple grades, including Red, Red/Brown, and Brown Mint States; certified population data; and a wealth of background information. 288 Pages, Softcover, 6x9 inches, Full Color.

Product Details

• Paperback: 271 pages
• Publisher: Whitman Publishing; 2 edition (February 2009)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0794828310
• ISBN-13: 978-0794828318
• Product Dimensions: 9 x 6.1 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #91,734 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #73 in Books > Crafts, Hobbies & Home > Antiques & Collectibles > Coins & Medals

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Both a money-saving reference, AND an interesting read in itself, May 5, 2011

By 

GirlScoutDad (Oakton, Virginia) - See all my reviews

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This review is from: A Guide Book of Flying Eagle and Indian Head Cents: Complete Source for History, Grading, and Prices (Paperback)

This "red book" guide has saved me hundreds of dollars already and I've only owned it for a month or so. It has helped me know the value of a particular date and grade of Indian Head Cent, and thereby avoid over-bidding for an item on Ebay or another on-line site. I like things that make me smarter AND save me money, and therefore I like this book a lot.

In addition, the author Rick Snow has an easy and readable writing style. He has included short essays on why it's worthwhile collecting coins, and how to make the hobby interesting and enjoyable. So the guide is more than just a reference, it's a succinct treatise on the philosophy and psychology of coin collecting. The heart of the book, however, is a year-by-year guide to one cent coins from 1856 to 1909. For each year, the author includes a page or two about what was happening in America that year, as well as the "mintage" -- i.e., how many coins were made (both business-strike and proof) of the coin, key variations, and guidance on what to look out for and how to build a collection. Of course the monetary values of each grade and variation of coin are listed. There are detailed color illustrations throughout.

The final part of the book includes a very interesting and informative section on counterfeit and doctored Indian Head Cents, and a short biography of James B. Longacre, the Chief Engraver who is also the designer of the Indian Head Cent. There is no doubt that this book is an essential basic reference for any collector of 1 cent coins from 1856 - 1909. Q: Did Longacre really use his daughter Sara as the model for the bust of Liberty on the obverse of the coin? A: Read the book and find out!

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The Indian Cent Bible, March 31, 2010

By 

W. SCHAPER (Rosenhayn, NJ) - See all my reviews

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This review is from: A Guide Book of Flying Eagle and Indian Head Cents: Complete Source for History, Grading, and Prices (Paperback)

This is the bible for anyone who is into Flying Eagle and Indian cents. Rick Snow gives a complete history on each coin for every year. He includes varieties and current values too. He gives grading guidelines and some general information for new collecters. This is a MUST HAVE for everyone who collects or is interested in these coins!

5.0 out of 5 stars A Guide Book of FLYING EAGLE and INDIAN HEAD CENTS, March 2, 2012

By 

bookieman - See all my reviews

This review is from: A Guide Book of Flying Eagle and Indian Head Cents: Complete Source for History, Grading, and Prices (Paperback)

This is another outstanding publication from Whitman Publishing. It is an intelligently written and well illustrated work by Richard Snow on Flying Eagle and Indian Head Cents. It contains a wealth of information about each date along with historically pertinent data of the time. Yearly information concerning mintages, die varieties, and scarcity factors are readily available and easily accessible to the reader, making this handy-sized book an excellent carry along to coin shows and other events. This book is reasonably priced and well worth the small investment to any Flying Eagle or Indian Head Cent collector.