The 1861 Indian Head cent, the first of the lowest denomination to be struck in the American Civil War, is a historically interesting coin. While it had the lowest mintage for any cent struck in the Civil War, it was also the only piece that actually circulated for the complete year after its mintage. Part of its total mintage of 10,100,000 coins circulated for some time, at least until the Civil War broke out in April of the year. Soon, it was apparent that the outcome would be unclear for a long time to go, and the circulation of gold and silver coins soon ceased. During the following year, the federal cents followed.

Introduced in 1859, the Indian Head Cent was the 2nd small type, after the first which were only struck for two short years (1857 and 1858). The so-called Flying Eagle cents, introduced a few years earlier as a replacement for the familiar large cents in use since 1793, brought up many striking problems and a better design was made. Designed by James Barton Longacre, the Indian Head cents remained to be struck for a generation to come. The Civil War set, which compromises of some surprisingly difficult dates in higher grades and original condition, makes for an interesting collecting challenge.

The majority of 1861 cents were struck when Robert Scott was general-in-chief of the American army. Born in 1786, he was one of the most experience generals the United States ever knew, and was nicknamed "the grand old army man". While born in Virginia, Scott would remain loyal to the country which he had served through the war of 1812, the Mexican-American War and the Black Hawk war of 1832. Both during and after is lifetime, he was considered by military historians to be one of the most tactic and strategist commanders in the history of the United States military. However, when the Civil War broke out the aged Scott was too tall and heavy to mount a horse, and he was soon replaced by George B. McClellan, supposedly after much political pressure from its supporters.

In the New York Times of November 4th, 1861 the leaving of the former General-in-chief was described in a manner of farewell:

Gen. Scott's Retirement

Washington. Sunday. Nov. 3. "Gen. Scott took his departure yesterday morning for New-York…At 4 o'clock, Gen. Scott left his residence in a carriage, accompanied by his staff…He seated himself in the room at the depot, and soon Gen. McClellan and staff arrived. For some minutes the old General and his former pupil, now successor in the command of our army, were side by side in conversation, in which may prove to be their last interview on earth. A deep silence pervaded the place while this was transpiring…At 5 o'clock the locomotive whistle announced the departure of the train, and in a moment it was out of sight.

Scott would live to see the Union victory in the American Civil war, and passed away in 1866 at age 79.

The 1861 cent is available in the lower uncirculated grades but gets scarce at higher grades. Pieces are always in demand, due to their low mintage and status as type coin. A total of approximately 1,000 Proofs were struck for collectors, but of these only 400 are said to have been distributed. Proofs are the scarcest of the copper-nickel series, and are highly sought with reflective fields, especially by specialists of the series.