Flying Eagle Cent - A High Point in Pennies?

One Cent Pieces in the United States can be divided into two general categories, with the major change coming in the year 1856. That was when the US Mint stopped striking large cents and started making small cents

The last "large cent produced was the "Braided Hair" large cent. It was 27.5 millimeters in diameter, whereas the new Flying Eagle was only 19 millimeters across! The new 4.67 gram penny weighed less than half as much as the 10.89 gram large cent!

The Flying Eagle Cent was designed by James Barton Longacre, the Chief Engraver of the US Mint from 1844 until 1869. Longacre's most famous coin was undoubtedly the Indian Head Cent, which would replace the Flying Eagle in 1869. But Longacre was also responsible for the Shield Nickel, Two-Cent Piece, Silver and Nickel Three-Cent Pieces, One Dollar Gold, a Three-Dollar Gold Piece, and the Liberty Head (or Coronet) Double Eagle Gold Piece ($20).

The obverse (or heads side) of the Flying Eagle Cent features an eagle in flight. While eagles have been featured on the reverse side of coins, this is the only instance in which the eagle occupies the feature spot.

The reverse (or tails side) of the coin features a wreath encircling the words "One Cent," similar to the wreath on the Indian Head Cent, which would be introduced just three years after the Flying Eagle was designed.

The Flying Eagle Cent was minted from 1856 through 1859,

It is not known how many 1856 Flying Eagle Cents were minted. Estimates range from 1000 to 2000. The coins were produced as patterns and to perfect the design and dies. The were also used to influence members of Congress to authorize the coin. The1856 coins were never meant to be placed into circulation. In fact, the coins were supposed to be returned to the Mint and destroyed. But some 1856 Flying Eagle Cents never made their way back to the Mint at all. Since there were so few minted (and so many of those were destroyed), 1856 Flying Eagles are very highly prized.

The 1858 Flying Eagle Cent actually had two varieties. The "Large Letter" and the "Small Letter" versions of the coin had different lettering on the back of the coin. The best place to see the difference at a glance is the spacing between the letters "A" and "M" in "America." If you examine the spacing, you will find that in the "Large Letter" variety of the coin, the serifs at the bases of the letters almost touch. In the "Small Letter" variety there is a clear space between the two coins.The first A in America on the "Large Letter" variety is also closer to the Eagle's wingtip!

In addition, with the coin's composition changeing from copper to 87% copper, 13% nickel the color changed. People began to call it the "white cent." And people who were used to seeing the image of Liberty on the obverse of the coin began to call the "Flying Eagle Cent" the "Buzzard Cent."