Description

The obverse features a flying eagle design, the words "United States of America" and the date in which the coin was struck. The reverse has a wreath of leaves, corn ears, cotton and tobacco with a ribbon below and the words "One Cent" in the center.

General Information

The Flying Eagle cent was the first official U.S. small cent. It was designed by James B. Longacre and were struck from 1856 to 1858. They are 19 mm in size and are nickel and copper in composition. All Flying eagle cents were struck at the Philadelphia Mint.

The first pieces struck in 1856 became a circulating pattern cent. They were originally struck to present to Congress however some of these scarce date coins made it into circulation during the Civil War.

The key date of the Flying Eagle cent series is the 1856 cent. Specially struck Proof issues were also minted to sell to collectors. Less than 2,000 Uncirculated and Proof 1856 cents were minted. Counterfeit 1856 coins are known to exist. Many are 1858 cents with an altered date.

Author's Notes & Comments

The words "One Cent" on the reverse of Flying Eagle cents may often be found weakly struck. Below is the actual reverse side of the obverse coin shown above.

1858 Varieties

There are two major varieties of 1858 cents that the novice collector will encounter. These are the large letters and small letters varieties. They are easy to distinguish. On the large letters variety of 1858 cents the "A" and "M" in the word "America" will touch at the bottom. On the small letters variety the letters will be separate and will not touch.