Flying Eagle Cent

By the early 1850s copper availability was limited. At the same time, the large copper cents in circulation had become unpopular with the public who found them to be unattractive and heavy. In response to this, Congress passed a coinage law in 1857 that provided for a smaller cent composed of 88% copper and 12% nickel based on a trial design by James Snowden in 1856. Distribution of the coins began in 1857. Redemption proved very popular producing long lines at the Mint in May of 1857. Although Flying Eagles were copper coins, at the time they were referred to as 'nicks' because of their nickel content. The Flying Eagles series was short-lived most likely due to striking problems. The Flying Eagle cent was replaced by the Indian cent in 1859.

The Flying Eagle cent was designed by James B. Longacre. Keys coins for the series are the 1856 dates and an 1858/7 overdate and all proofs are scarce to rare.