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Flying Eagle Cents

The Act of February 21, 1857, mandated that a smaller diameter cent composed of copper-nickel be coined.  The Large Cent, a staple in United States coinage since since 1793, had become too costly to mint.

The first small cent was the Flying Eagle Cent, which was actually minted in 1856. The 1856 cent is technically described as a pattern coin, since the law establishing the new small cent was enacted in 1857. It is estimated that 1000 of the 1856 Flying Eagle cent pattern coins were minted.

US Coin Values Advisor has completed Coin Value Tables™ for the Flying Eagle Cent, reporting price trends over a long period of time for individual coins of this series.
 

1856 Flying Eagle cent obv

1856 Flying Eagle cent rev

Flying Eagle Cent Specifications

Diameter:

Weight:

Minted:

Composition:

Designer

Edge:

19.0 mm

4.67 g

1856-1858

.120 Ni .880 Cu

James B. Longacre

Plain

Coin Photos courtesy of Ira & Larry Goldberg Coins & Collectibles, Inc., Beverly Hills, CA.

On May 25, 1857, the US Philadelphia Mint began exchanging old large coppers and foreign silver for Flying Eagle cents.  The program was a magnificent success.

Legend has it that Peter the Eagle was the model for the bird on the coin.  Peter was a bald eagle who took up residence inside the original Philadelphia mint building around 200 years ago.  Peter was mortally wounded when he was caught in some machinery.  Taxidermists preserved Peter, and today he is on display at the current Philadelphia Mint.  In the 1880's, Mint researcher George G. Evans wrote this about Peter:

Near the exit door of the Cabinet, in a large glass case, is a magnificent American eagle, which is worthy of the visitor's attention. It is superbly mounted, with grand breadth of wing and wondrous piercing eyes. The portrait of this "pet" can be recognized on the reverse of the pattern silver dollars of 1836-1839 and on the obverse of the 1856 flying eagle cent.

Peter is the name which the noble bird recognized. He was an inhabitant of the Mint for six years. He would fly about the city, but no one interfered with the going or the coming of the "Mint bird" and he never failed to return home from his daily exercise before the tie for closing the building. In an evil hour he unfortunately perched upon a large flywheel, and getting caught in the machinery received a fatal injury to his wing, and this ended rather an unusual career for an eagle..

Today, Peter has become a mascot of sorts for the Mint, portrayed as a cartoon narrator in educational outreach programs geared for young people.  It seems as long as there is the US Mint, Peter's memory will be preserved.

The Flying Eagle Cent was minted only through 1858.  Insufficient metal flow into a few design element recesses (e.g. the eagle's head) while striking led Mint officials to abandon the coin.  By the time this decision was made, more than 42 million Flying Eagle Cents had entered the channels of American commerce.  The following year, 1859, saw the first of 50 years of production for the Indian Head cent.

All Flying Eagle Cents are handsome additions to any collection, but the 1856 really is the only key date for the series.  Many fakes of this rarity exist.  A good way to avoid getting hurt is to only purchase an 1856 Flying Eagle Cent that is certified by PCGS, NGC, ANACS, or IGC.

 

1856

 

Most eBay coin auctions involving the 1856 Flying Eagle Cent are for self-described replicas of the famous coin.  Primarily, these are curiosities and have no numismatic value to speak of.  Once in a while, the real deal will make an appearance.  The left hand side of the "Sales Box" is value trend data over a very long period of time for an 1856 Flying Eagle cent in Good-4 condition.  The percent annual increase is computed for comparative purposes.  The coin pictured for sale in the right hand side is not necessarily a G-4 example of the 1856 Flying Eagle cent.

1856

Flying Eagle Cent
Condition: G-4

     

Value Trends

1950:  $60.00

1980:  $800

1995:  $2600

2002:  $3850

2007:  $6500

 

% Annual Increase Since 1950  =

8.57%

 

Half Cents 1793-1857

Large Cents 1793-1857

Flying Eagle Cents 1856-1858

Indian Head Cents 1859-1909

Lincoln Cents 1909-present

Two and Three Cents 1851-1889

Shield Nickels 1866-1883

Liberty Nickels 1883-1913

Buffalo Nickels 1913-1938

Jefferson Nickels 1938-present

Early Half Dimes 1792-1837

Seated Liberty Half Dimes 1837-1873

Early Dimes 1796-1837

Seated Liberty Dimes 1837-1891

Barber Dimes 1892-1916

Mercury Dimes 1916-1945

Roosevelt Dimes 1946-present

Twenty Cents 1875-1878

Early Quarters 1796-1838

Seated Liberty Quarters 1838-1891

Barber Quarters 1892-1916

Standing Liberty Quarters 1916-1930

Washington Quarters 1932-present

Early Half Dollars 1794-1839

Seated Liberty Half Dollars 1839-1891

Barber Half Dollars 1892-1915

Walking Liberty Half Dollars 1916-1947

Franklin Half Dollars 1948-1963

Kennedy Half Dollars 1964-Present

Early Dollars 1794-1804

Gobrecht Dollars 1836-1839

Seated Liberty Dollars 1840-1873

Trade Dollars 1873-1885

Morgan Dollars 1878-1921

Peace Dollars 1921-1935

Eisenhower Dollars 1971-1978

Anthony Dollars 1979-1981,1999

Sacagawea Dollars 2000-present

Presidential Dollars 2007-present

Gold Dollars 1849-1889

Early Quarter Eagles 1796-1834

Classic Head Quarter Eagles 1834-1839

Coronet Quarter Eagles 1840-1907

Indian Head Quarter Eagles 1908-1929

Three Dollar Gold 1854-1889

Early Half Eagles 1795-1834

Classic Head Half Eagles 1834-1838

Coronet Half Eagles 1839-1908

Indian Head Half Eagles 1908-1929

Early Eagles 1795-1804

Coronet Eagles 1838-1907

Indian Head Eagles 1907-1933

Coronet Double Eagles 1849-1907

St-Gaudens Double Eagles 1907-1933

Image Preview Peter the Mint Eagle waits in the wings beside U.S. Mint Director Henrietta Holsman Fore at the rollout ceremony for the California state quarter in 2005.

                       Image courtesy of US Mint
.

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