The Indian Head Cent was a one-cent coin minted by the United States from 1859 to 1909. Designed by James Barton Longacre, the coin features Lady Liberty in a Native American headdress on the obverse and a laurel wreath (1859) or an oak wreath with a shield (1860–1909) on the reverse. Initially composed of 88% copper and 12% nickel, the coin transitioned to a bronze alloy in 1864. Indian Head Cents were widely circulated, particularly during the Civil War, when people hoarded precious metals, making them a popular alternative to scarce coinage.