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America's first small-cent was the Flying Eagle cent, which was originally struck in 1856 as a pattern and was produced for mass circulation in 1857 and 1858. The change came after the United States Mint began experimenting with new pattern cents in the mid 1850s due to increased costs of producing the large cent. The Flying Eagle cent was designed by United States Mint Chief Engraver James B. Longacre and is an adaption of the Christian Gobrecht pattern silver dollars struck in the mid 1830s.
Approximately 1,800 Flying Eagle cents were struck with the 1856 date for use as presentation pieces, and possibly some were made at a later point to satisfy the demands of collectors who wanted examples of the coin. The Flying Eagle cent was officially unveiled for circulation on May 25, 1857, which was during the period that the United States government was demonetizing foreign coinage that was still circulating throughout the nation as legal tender. The Flying Eagle cent is made from a composition of 88% copper, 12% nickel, and were widely dubbed "nicks." Though the Flying Eagle cent was in regular production for just two years, more than 40 million were struck and became quite popular with the public.
For a coin that was produced for only two years (three when counting the popularly collected 1856 presentation piece, which did see limited circulation) at just the Philadelphia Mint, there are a surprising number of issues and varieties. These include the 1856 and 1857 regular issues, 1858 Large or Small Letters varieties, 1858/7 overdates, and proof specimens from 1856 and 1857, as well as proof variants of each the 1858 Small and Large Letters. While the Flying Eagle cent is widely collected as an extension of the Indian Head cent series, Flying Eagle pennies offer enough complexity as a standalone series to provide plenty of challenge to anyone desiring to focus solely on collecting and studying this first incarnation of the small cent.
Obverse Description
An eagle with wings extended in full flight fills the central obverse design with the words UNITED STATES OF AMERICA around the top periphery. The date is centered at the bottom.
Reverse Description
The reverse bears the denomination of ONE CENT in the center surrounded by a wreath bearing a ribbon tied in at the bottom center.
Book Reference
Designer: James B. Longacre. Weight: 4.67 grams. Composition: .880 copper, .120 nickel. Diameter: 19 mm. Edge: Plain. Mint: Philadelphia.
Key to Collecting: The Flying Eagle cents first appeared in circulation on May 25, 1857. Within a year, most old copper “large” cents had disappeared, and the new small cents were standard in the channels of commerce. These were struck in quantity for the remainder of 1857 and in 1858, after which the design was abandoned, as problems resulted in striking. Examples are easy to obtain today. Most are in worn grades from G to F or better. Mint State pieces are plentiful in the marketplace, but within any assigned grading number, quality is apt to vary widely. Cherrypicking for a choice example is highly advised.
Aspects of Striking and Appearance: Striking is usually fairly good. However, some are weak on the eagle’s head and tail feathers and, sometimes, in the lettering on the obverse. The reverse tends to be better struck, but weakness can occur on the higher areas of the wreath. Most Mint State coins are lustrous.
Proof Coins: Proof coins of the 1856 pattern are plentiful, with over 1,500 believed to have been made, most as restrikes. Among regular issues, Proofs of 1857 are very rare and those of 1858 are quite rare but not in the league of the 1857.
Catalog Information
GSID:
72334
Designer:
James B. Longacre
Obverse Designer:
James B. Longacre
Obverse Lettering:
UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, [Date]
Reverse Designer:
James B. Longacre
Reverse Lettering:
ONE CENT
Weight (gr):
4.67 gr
Weight (oz):
0.165 oz
Strike Type:
Business
Diameter:
19
Coin Shape:
Round
Edge:
Plain
Variety:
1856-1858
Coin Date:
Flying Eagle Cent
Denomination:
1c
Designation:
MS
Mint Location:
Philadelphia
Coinage Type:
Flying Eagle Cent
Coinage Years:
1856-1858
Composition:
0.880 Copper; 0.120 Nickel
PCGS #:
2010
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Coin Value History
Flying Eagle Cent 1c 1856-1858 MS [Type]
Value By Grade
Flying Eagle Cent 1c 1856-1858 MS [Type]
CPG (retail) values
Currency
Grade Range
Grading Authority
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Pricing
Values
Greysheet & CPG® Values
| Grade | CAC | CPG Value (Retail) | Greysheet Price (Wholesale) |
|---|---|---|---|
| MS67 |
|
$50,500 | $1,234 |
| MS67 | - | $39,500 | $1,234 |
| MS66 |
|
$1,234 | $1,234 |
| MS66 | - | $1,234 | $1,234 |
| MS65 |
|
$1,234 | $1,234 |
| MS65 | - | $1,234 | $1,234 |
| MS64 |
|
$1,234 | $1,234 |
| MS64 | - | $1,234 | $1,234 |
| MS63 |
|
$1,234 | $1,234 |
| MS63 | - | $1,234 | $1,234 |
| MS62 |
|
$1,234 | $1,234 |
| MS62 | - | $1,234 | $1,234 |
| MS61 |
|
$1,234 | $1,234 |
| MS61 | - | $1,234 | $1,234 |
| MS60 |
|
$1,234 | $1,234 |
| MS60 | - | $1,234 | $1,234 |
| AU58 |
|
$1,234 | $1,234 |
| AU58 | - | $1,234 | $1,234 |
| AU55 |
|
$1,234 | $1,234 |
| AU55 | - | $1,234 | $1,234 |
| AU53 |
|
$1,234 | $1,234 |
| AU53 | - | $1,234 | $1,234 |
| AU50 |
|
$1,234 | $1,234 |
| AU50 | - | $1,234 | $1,234 |
| XF45 |
|
$1,234 | $1,234 |
| XF45 | - | $1,234 | $1,234 |
| XF40 |
|
$1,234 | $1,234 |
| XF40 | - | $1,234 | $1,234 |
| VF35 |
|
$1,234 | $1,234 |
| VF35 | - | $1,234 | $1,234 |
| VF30 |
|
$1,234 | $1,234 |
| VF30 | - | $1,234 | $1,234 |
| VF25 |
|
$1,234 | $1,234 |
| VF25 | - | $1,234 | $1,234 |
| VF20 |
|
$1,234 | $1,234 |
| VF20 | - | $1,234 | $1,234 |
| F15 |
|
$1,234 | $1,234 |
| F15 | - | $1,234 | $1,234 |
| F12 |
|
$1,234 | $1,234 |
| F12 | - | $1,234 | $1,234 |
| VG10 |
|
$1,234 | $1,234 |
| VG10 | - | $1,234 | $1,234 |
| VG8 |
|
$1,234 | $1,234 |
| VG8 | - | $1,234 | $1,234 |
| G6 |
|
$1,234 | $1,234 |
| G6 | - | $1,234 | $1,234 |
| G4 |
|
$1,234 | $1,234 |
| G4 | - | $1,234 | $1,234 |
| AG3 |
|
$1,234 | $1,234 |
| AG3 | - | $1,234 | $1,234 |
1856 1c Flying Eagle MS
Worth: $5,500 – $228,000
1857 1c Flying Eagle MS
Worth: $12 – $9,500
1858 1c Flying Eagle, Small Letters MS
Worth: $12 – $19,200
1858 1c Flying Eagle, Large Letters MS
Worth: $12 – $42,000
1858/7 1c Flying Eagle, LL, Strong Overdate MS
Worth: $75 – $150,000
1858/(7) 1c Flying Eagle, LL, Weak Overdate MS
Worth: $155 – $4,180
Flying Eagle Cent Set 1c 4 Coins MS
Worth: $5,536 – $265,700
1858 1C Large Letters MS64 NGC. CDN: $1,650 Whsle. Bid for NGC/PCGS MS64. Mintage 24,600,000. ...
$1,830
1858 1C Large Letters, Low Leaves, FS-901, MS63 PCGS. CAC. Eagle Eye Photo Seal. PCGS Population: 5 in 63, 13 finer. CAC: 1...
$1,708
1858 1C Small Letters MS65 PCGS. CAC. Snow-10. ...
$6,405
1857 1C AU50 ANACS. Housed in a small-sized holder. Mintage 17,450,000. ...
$317
1858 1C Large Letters AU55 PCGS. High Leaves Reverse. CDN: $380 Whsle. Bid for NGC/PCGS AU55. Mintage 24,600,000. ...
$439
1858 1C Small Letters VF35 ANACS. Low Leaves Reverse. Housed in a small-sized holder. ...
$139
1857 1C Flying Eagle MS62 PCGS. CDN: $760 Whsle. Bid for NGC/PCGS MS62. Mintage 17,450,000. ...
$824
1857 1C MS61 PCGS. Housed in a Generation 3.1 green label holder. PCGS Population: 76 in 61, 3284 finer (7/26). CDN: $660 ...
$927
1858/7 1C FS-301 XF40 PCGS. Housed in a Generation 3.1 green label holder. CDN: $750 Whsle. Bid for NGC/PCGS XF40. Mintage ...
$915
1858 1C Small Letters AU58 PCGS. Low Leaves Reverse. CDN: $540 Whsle. Bid for NGC/PCGS AU58. ...
$610
1858 1C Small Letters VF20 ANACS. Low Leaves Reverse. Housed in a small-sized holder. Mintage 24,600,000. ...
$94
1857 1C Flying Eagle XF45 PCGS. CDN: $170 Whsle. Bid for NGC/PCGS XF45. Mintage 17,450,000....
$232
1858 1C Small Letters AU53 PCGS. Low Leaves Reverse. Closed E in ONE. PCGS Population: 84 in 53, 1297 finer (1/26). CDN: $2...
$329
1857 1C MS66 NGC. ...
$5,612
(1856-58) 1C Copper-Nickel Cent Planchet NGC. 4.7 grams....
$900
1858/7 1C FS-301, Snow-1 -- Graffiti -- ANACS Details. Fine 15 Details. ...
$94
1857 1C Flying Eagle VF30 ANACS. Mintage 17,450,000....
$109
1857 1C Eagle, Obverse Die Clash with Seated Half, Snow-9, FS-402, VF25 NGC. Ex: Stack's W 57th St Collection. NGC Census: ...
$240
1857 1C Flying Eagle FS-402, S-9 -- Obverse Clash With 50C -- VG8 PCGS. PCGS Population: (6/104)....
$109
1858 1C Flying Eagle -- Struck 25% Off Center -- VG10 PCGS. PCGS Population: (51/3129). Mintage 24,600,000....
$4,080
Greysheet News
Prominent Collector Dell Loy Hansen Submitting His Historical Collection Of U.S. Coins To CAC Grading
8/8/2024
American Numismatic Association's Largest Coin Show, August 6-10 In Chicago
Dazzling rarities, free educational opportunities, family fun and more await at the Donald E. Stephens Convention Center
7/25/2024
United States Mint Unveils Designs For The 2025 United States Marine Corps 250th Anniversary Commemorative Coin Program
The designs will be featured on a $5 gold coin, a $1 silver coin, and a half dollar clad coin.
7/23/2024
Events
Knoxville Coin and Currency Show - TN
Location: Rothchild Catering & Conference Center
Saturday, August 1, 2026
