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First and last year sets are of compelling interest to today’s collectors–both for their historical and intrinsic value. The Indian Head Penny was first struck by the U.S. Mint in 1859. The original coins from 1859-1864 were made of a copper-nickel alloy and are among the most prized U.S. coins of the 1800’s. All later coins were struck in bronze. These 1859 and 1909 coins are the last surviving specimens from America’s “Wild West” days and as such belong in everyone’s collection of vintage American coinage.