Flying Eagle Cents 1856-1858

About This Series

Marking the decisive transition from large copper cents to the small format persisting today, the Flying Eagle cent introduced a copper-nickel alloy coin of 19 mm and 4.67 grams. James B. Longacre designed the obverse eagle adapting Christian Gobrecht's soaring eagle from the 1836 dollar pattern, with a laurel wreath reverse encircling ONE CENT. The 1856, with approximately 2,000-3,000 struck, was a Congressional review pattern and one of the most coveted American coins. Congress authorized the small cent in February 1857, and 1857-1858 issues entered circulation massively, with the public eagerly exchanging worn foreign coins for the new format. Two 1858 varieties — Large Letters and Small Letters — provide distinct subtypes. Despite artistic appeal, the high-relief eagle opposite the substantial wreath created opposing elements resisting full striking, causing excessive die wear. This technical shortcoming led to the Indian Head cent design by 1859, relegating the Flying Eagle to just three years — one of the shortest-lived types in American coinage.