US Flying Eagle Cent Coins

Flying Eagle Cent (1856-1858)

The Flying Eagle Cent holds a special place in American numismatic history as the nation's first small cent. Designed by James Barton Longacre, Chief Engraver of the United States Mint, this short-lived series replaced the unwieldy large copper cents that had become expensive to produce and unpopular with the public.

Design & Designer

James B. Longacre created an elegant and patriotic design that captured the spirit of mid-19th century America:

• Obverse: A majestic eagle in flight, wings spread, soaring to the left. The design was inspired by the work of artist Christian Gobrecht and symbolized American freedom and strength.
• Reverse: An agricultural wreath of corn, wheat, cotton, and tobacco, representing America's agricultural abundance, encircling the denomination "ONE CENT"
• Composition: 88% copper, 12% nickel (often called "nickel cents")
• Weight: 4.67 grams
• Diameter: 19mm

Historical Context

By the 1850s, the large copper cent had become impractical. Rising copper prices made the coins expensive to produce, and their bulky size made them unpopular in commerce. The Mint experimented with smaller cent designs, leading to the Flying Eagle pattern of 1856.

The Complete Series

1856 - The Pattern Year

The 1856 Flying Eagle Cent was struck as a pattern coin to demonstrate the new small cent concept to Congress and the public. Approximately 2,000-3,000 pieces were produced, making it one of the most famous and desirable pattern coins in American numismatics. While technically not a circulation issue, the 1856 is widely collected as part of the Flying Eagle series and commands substantial premiums in all grades.

1857 - First Year of Issue

Following Congressional approval, the Flying Eagle Cent entered regular production in 1857 with a mintage of 17,450,000 pieces. This first year of circulation is highly collectible, particularly in higher grades. Well-struck examples with full feather details are especially prized.

1858 - Final Year & Varieties

The final year of production saw two distinct varieties that are avidly collected:

• 1858 Large Letters: Features larger lettering in "UNITED STATES OF AMERICA" and "ONE CENT"
• 1858 Small Letters: Smaller, more refined lettering; generally scarcer than Large Letters
• 1858/7 Overdate: A rare and valuable variety showing remnants of an underlying 7 beneath the final 8

Total 1858 mintage: 24,600,000 (both varieties combined)

Why Only Three Years?

The Flying Eagle design, while beautiful, presented striking problems. The high-relief eagle on the obverse and the wreath on the reverse were directly opposite each other, making it difficult to bring up full details on both sides simultaneously. This led to the design's replacement in 1859 by Longacre's Indian Head Cent, which featured a lower-relief design that struck more consistently.

Grading & Collecting Considerations

Key areas to examine when grading Flying Eagle Cents:

• Eagle's head and eye: Should show sharp definition
• Wing feathers: Full separation of feathers indicates a strong strike
• Tail feathers: Often weak due to striking issues
• Wreath details: Look for complete definition in the corn, wheat, and cotton

Due to the striking challenges inherent in the design, truly well-struck examples with full details on both sides command significant premiums. Many Flying Eagle Cents show weakness in the head and tail feathers even in high grades.

Collecting the Series

The Flying Eagle Cent series is one of the few complete type sets that can be assembled in just three dates (or four if including both 1858 varieties). This makes it an attractive goal for collectors. However, the 1856 pattern's rarity and value place it beyond the reach of many collectors, who often settle for the two circulation dates of 1857 and 1858.

These coins represent a pivotal moment in American coinage history - the transition from large to small cents that would define U.S. minor coinage for generations to come.