 James Barton Longacre ( August 11 , 1794 – January 1 , 1869 ) was an American portraitist and engraver , and from 1844 until his death the fourth Chief Engraver of the United States Mint . Longacre is best known for designing the Indian Head cent , which entered commerce in 1859 , and for the designs of the Shield nickel , Flying Eagle cent and other coins of the mid @-@ 19th century . 
