Flying Eagle Cents

The Flying Eagle Cent was introduced in 1856 as the first small-sized cent issued by the United States Mint, replacing the long-running large cent. Designed by James B. Longacre, the obverse features a soaring eagle, while the reverse displays a simple wreath encircling the denomination. Although officially produced from 1856 through 1858, the 1856 issue was struck in limited numbers as a pattern and is considered the key rarity of the series. The short-lived type faced striking difficulties due to its copper-nickel composition, leading to its replacement by the Indian Head Cent in 1859. Despite its brief production run, the Flying Eagle Cent remains a highly popular and historically important transitional design.