1856-1858 Flying Eagle Cents

Information on the Flying Eagle Cent Series:

The Flying Eagle Small Cent was the first small cent to be minted in the US, replacing the more expensive Large Cents of the past. The obverse of the Flying Eagle Small Cent, designed by Mint Chief Engraver James B. Longacre, and based on the reverse of the 1836 silver dollar, features an eagle in flight. The legend UNITED STATES OF AMERICA appears above the eagle and the year of mintage below. The reverse features the words ONE CENT within a wreath of corn, cotton, wheat and tobacco. This design is one of Longacre's own, having first appeared on the 1854 Type II gold dollar as well as the three-dollar.

In 1856, the Philadelphia Mint struck between 1,000 & 2,000 Flying Eagle Small Cents to show influential senators and congressmen what the new coin was to look like. These coins were to be returned to the mint and destroyed, but not all of them were. An 1856 Flying Eagle Small Cent is a rare coin and quite valuable.

In 1857, the mints began producing Flying Eagle Small Cents for general circulation but complications with die and strike quality caused the mints to halt production in 1858.

The Flying Eagle Small Cent is composed of 88% copper & 12% nickel, which was stronger, less susceptible to wear and cheaper than the pure copper used in the Large Cents.