Although the Mint struck approximately 1,000 Proof Indian cents in 1861, only 134 specimens had been distributed to collectors by April 30. The outbreak of the Civil War probably meant that few additional examples found buyers by year's end, and we suspect that the vast majority of coins struck were later released into circulation.

The example to the left was sold by Stack's Bowers Galleries in the August 2019 Rosemont ANA Auction, where it realized $15,000.