Midway throught this year's cent production, the Mint's Engraving Department move the words OF AMERICA upward to make them better balanced with UNITED STATES. This is most noticeable in the relative position of the lowest feather. On the Type 1 cents, similar to those of previous years, this feather points between letters IC, while the Type 2 cents of this and subsequent years the feather points between CA.
Type 1 1886 cents comprise the majority of this year's coinage and are thus more common. These coins are also better made overall than the Type 2 cents, with sharper details from less worn dies. Fully red examples, however, are quite scarce.
Mintage:
| Philadelphia |
| 17,650,000 |