1857 Flying Eagle Cent - Circulated

This small copper coin was the first ‘Small Cent’ in U.S. History that would replace the even smaller half-cent and the massive Large Cent that had been in use throughout the United States. Not only did these coins replace our everyday cent pieces, but it was also released during the same time-frame in which the United States stopped allowing Spanish (and other foreign coins) to be circulated amongst American coinage!

The major reason for this change was in 1856 the cost of copper had exceeded the actual denomination value of the Large-Cent coin, which resulted in the United States Mint created a much smaller cent to replace the “Large Cent”: this replacement coin eventually became our modern day penny!

This special coin was only struck for three years, from 1856 to 1858 – but the coins struck in 1856 were only ‘Pattern Pieces’ that were never released to the public (Only 2,000 pieces were ever made with the 1956 strike!). This meant the true first-year-of-issue circulating coins for the Flying Eagle Cent is the 1857!

In 1857 they only struck 17,500,000 total Flying Eagle Cents… which might sound like a lot, until you compare it to the other first year U.S. Small Cents: The 1859 Indian Head Cent & the 1909 Lincoln Cents. The 1857 Flying Eagle Cents are SIGNIFICANTLY RARER coins!

1857 Flying Eagle – 17,500,000 Vs. 1859 Indian Head Cent– 36,400,000 – More than 2 Times Rarer!

1857 Flying Eagle – 17,500,000 Vs. 1909 Lincoln Cent (VDB + Reg) – 100,697,618 – Over 5.75 Times Rarer!

Each of our Flying Eagle Cents are authentic, hand selected circulated coins from 1857 encapsulated in our custom protective lens.