The Indian head coins are known as Indian heads because of the image of liberty portrayed on their front, with a Native American head dress that has liberty spelled across its design. This coin was produces at two different mints and these mints where producing them at different times primarily. The United States Philadelphia mint was making these coins form 1859-1909 and the United States San Francisco 1908-1909. The design was actually created by one of the designers from the United States Philadelphia mint. The engraver was James Barton Longacre who was also the chief engraver and added his mark only on the coins that were made after 1864.
There were two different designs that were sued for the reverse side and each of them was different. The differences were in wreath of olive and oak that had been tied with a ribbon. There where other designs that had been considered and that where thought to be very attractive and wanted but the way in which the mint works was a cause for concern so these ended up not being made to the same extent that the Indian head one cent coins were.
The other design that was considered was called the flying eagle cent. The issue when it came to this coin was that the head and tail of the eagle where to be stroked and would be opposite the wreath which caused the design to look poorly as well as the metal to be too thick and many other complications. This is one of the coin designs that have lasted a very long time with a total of over forty years. Many coins will only be in circulation for a short amount of time but these where not and where very well liked.