A solid mid grade example of this popular date, the traditional key to the Indian Cent set. Equivalent to a certified Fine-15, I have seen coins that look like this certify as a VF-20 as well. The 1870’s Indian Cents are notoriously poorly struck at center, so the services tend to give them a “mulligan” in the Fine to low end EF range. Guaranteed genuine of course, the key to authenticating this date is remarkably easy. There are only two Obverse dies identified for the date, and only a single Reverse die. Therefore, all genuine 1877 Cents should show a weak bottom portion of the “N” in One, and typically also a weak upper serif/corner of the “N” in Cents. Also, while small differences in the two Obverse dies exist, both show a “dropped” last 7 in the date, with the two 7’s also having different shaped “legs”, one a bit more bulbous than the other. Regardless, should anyone have a concern in this matter, I offer an extended return period if you wish to submit a coin for authentication & grading - you can contact me for the details. I should also point out that under the legal standard of “bad title does not pass”, any coin identified as counterfeit is by definition returnable at any time to the dealer who sold it, and any legitimate, honest dealer will always stand behind that promise. Tipsico Coin has NEVER had to honor that promise, at least in the last 40 years that I am aware of, as we do the work before hand to make sure the coin is “kosher”.