History of the Flying Eagle Cent
The Flying Eagle cent was America’s first small cent, replacing the bulky large cent in 1857. Its soaring eagle, adapted from Christian Gobrecht’s dollar design, lasted just three years before striking problems — the eagle opposite the wreath caused chronic weakness — forced the switch to the Indian Head design.
The 1856 issue is technically a pattern struck to show Congress the new format, with an estimated 2,000 to 3,000 made. It has been collected alongside the regular 1857 and 1858 issues for so long that it trades as the series key, bringing five figures in most grades.
The Flying Eagle cent was struck from 1856 to 1858 in copper-nickel (88% copper, 12% nickel). The design is the work of James Barton Longacre. Each coin weighs 4.67 grams and measures 19.05 mm across. Production took place at Philadelphia.
How much is a Flying Eagle cent worth?
Like every collectible coin, the value of a Flying Eagle cent comes down to grade, rarity and demand. The ranges below are approximate retail prices collectors pay for problem-free examples — coins that have been cleaned, scratched or holed usually trade well below these figures.
For a live market check, recent sold listings beat out-of-date price guides every time. CoinVault Pro combines Numista catalog data with real eBay sold prices for every coin it recognizes, so you can see what buyers are actually paying this month — not what a book claimed years ago.
- 1857–1858, Good: $20–$35
- 1857–1858, Fine: $45–$70
- 1857–1858, XF: $150–$250
- 1857–1858, MS-63: $700–$1,100
- 1856 (pattern), any grade: $7,000–$25,000+
Key dates, mint marks and varieties
Not every Flying Eagle cent is equal. A small mint mark or a die variety can multiply the value many times over, so check your coin against this list before assuming it is a common example:
- 1856 — the pattern rarity and series key.
- 1858/7 overdate — scarce, strongest examples show a clear 7.
- 1858 Large Letters vs Small Letters — two collectible hub types.
How to identify a genuine Flying Eagle Cent
Authentication starts with the basics: weight, diameter, design details and the way the surfaces look. For the Flying Eagle cent, check the following:
If anything feels off — the weight is wrong, the details are mushy, or the surfaces look cast rather than struck — get a second opinion before buying or selling. Valuable dates are exactly the coins counterfeiters target most.
- Weight is 4.67 grams — noticeably thicker and heavier than later bronze cents.
- On genuine 1856 cents the center of the O in OF is slug-shaped; altered 1858 dates are the most common fake.
- Weak strikes on the eagle’s head and tail are normal, not damage.
- The 1858/7 overdate shows the flag of a 7 above the 8.
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