Cent · 1856–1858

Flying Eagle Cent

An eagle flying left with outstretched wings, surrounded by UNITED STATES OF AMERICA and the date below. A wreath of corn, wheat, cotton, and tobacco encircling the words ONE CENT.

Designer

James B. Longacre

Diameter

19.05 mm

Edge

Plain

Mint mark

None — all were struck in Philadelphia without a mint mark

Composition

1856–1858: 88% copper, 12% nickel (pale 'white cent' color) · 4.67 g

Did you know? This was America's first small cent, replacing the big heavy large cent — people called the new pale coins 'nicks' or 'white cents' because the nickel in the alloy made them lighter in color than a normal penny.

Beginner tip: Check the date first: 1857 and 1858 are affordable, but any 1856 is a major rarity, so have one authenticated before you celebrate.

Key dates to look for

1856 Flying Eagle

$7,000 – $30,000+ even well worn; always authenticate, fakes are common

Only about 2,000 struck, mostly as patterns to show Congress — the famous rarity of the series

1858 Flying Eagle

$150 – $2,000+ for a clear overdate

Check for the 1858/7 overdate — traces of a 7 under the 8 make an ordinary coin worth a strong premium

Valuable varieties & errors

1858/7 Overdate

rare

$150 – $2,000+

The Mint reused an 1857-dated die and punched an 8 over the final 7, leaving parts of the old digit visible. It is the most famous variety of this short series.

How to check: With a loupe, look at the last 8 in the date — on the overdate you can see the flag (top bar) of a 7 poking out of the upper part of the 8. Strong examples also show a tiny die chip between the 8 and the eagle above, and a broken wingtip on the eagle.

1858 Large Letters vs. Small Letters

common

$25 – $200 for either type in circulated grades

In 1858 the Mint used two lettering styles for UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, so every 1858 cent is one of two collectible types. Neither is rare, but collectors want both.

How to check: Look at the letters A and M in AMERICA on the front. If the A and M touch at their bases, it is the Large Letters type; if there is a clear gap between them, it is Small Letters.

Error types found on this series

Die Crack

A crack in the die fills with metal during the strike, leaving a thin raised line on the coin.

Die Clash

The dies slammed together with no coin between them, imprinting each side's design faintly onto the other.

Off-Center Strike

The blank wasn't centered when struck, so part of the design is missing and part of the coin is blank.

Lamination Error

A thin layer of the coin's metal peels, flakes, or cracks off because the alloy was poorly mixed.

Real photos where available (credits); others are illustrations.

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