1858 Small Letters Flying Eagle Cent
Owned by 905 LuckyCoin collectors
Your Coins
Sign up to track your coinsTap Add Coin to sign up and start tracking your collection.
About the Flying Eagle Cent
The Flying Eagle Cent was first issued by the United States Mint in 1856, and is the first small-size cent in U.S. history (previous U.S. cents were much larger than their modern counterparts). These coins were created in response to the rising price of copper, as the US Government was looking for a cost-effective way to produce coins. The Flying Eagle Cent was designed by Chief Engraver James B. Longacre.
The obverse of Flying Eagle Cents features an eagle in flight, with its wings outstretched. The reverse of the coins features a wreath of corn, cotton, and wheat, surrounding the phrase “One Cent” in the center. The Flying Eagle Cent was designed to be smaller than its predecessor, the Large Cent, in an effort to make it easier to mint more coins from less metal. As a result, these coins are smaller than most modern day pennies, measuring 17.5 mm in diameter.
The Flying Eagle Cent was struck for only three years, from 1856 to 1858, for a total of 89 million coins. Of those, only 3.2 million were minted with the “Small Letter” variety, making them some of the most sought-after and valuable coins in American numismatics. The Flying Eagle Cent is an important piece of U.S. numismatic history, and is a must-have for any coin collector.
The 1858 Small Letters Flying Eagle Cent coin, has a total mintage of 24,600,000, struck at the Philadelphia, Pennsylvania mint, and engraved by James Barton Longacre. Made of copper-nickel (.880 copper, .120 nickel), weighing 4.67 grams, with a diameter of 19 mm, and featuring a plain edge.
The obverse is an eagle in flight with the country name above and the date below. It reads “UNITED STATES OF AMERICA 1856”. The reverse is value within wreath. It reads “ONE CENT”.
Price by Grade
Sign up to see prices| Grade | Price (USD) |
|---|---|
| 4 | $30.00 |
| 8 | $45.00 |
| 12 | $55.00 |
| 20 | $80.00 |
| 40 | $190.00 |
| 50 | $240.00 |
| 55 | $400.00 |
| 58 | $600.00 |
| 60 | $700.00 |
| 62 | $1,000.00 |
| 63 | $1,300.00 |
| 64 | $2,100.00 |
| 65 | $3,900.00 |
| 66 | $13,000.00 |
Specifications
- Type
- Standard circulation coin
- Composition
- Copper-nickel (.880 copper, .120 nickel)
- Weight
- 4.67 g
- Diameter
- 19 mm
- Edge
- Plain
- Designer
- James Barton Longacre
- Currency
- Dollar (1785-date)
Frequently Asked Questions
- What is the mintage of the 1858 Small Letters Flying Eagle Cent?
- The 1858 Small Letters Flying Eagle Cent has a total mintage of 24,600,000.
- What is the 1858 Small Letters Flying Eagle Cent made of?
- The 1858 Small Letters Flying Eagle Cent is made of copper-nickel (.880 copper, .120 nickel), weighs 4.67 grams, measures 19 mm in diameter.
- Where was the 1858 Small Letters Flying Eagle Cent minted?
- The 1858 Small Letters Flying Eagle Cent was struck at the Philadelphia, Pennsylvania mint.
- How many people collect the 1858 Small Letters Flying Eagle Cent?
- 905 LuckyCoin collectors currently track the 1858 Small Letters Flying Eagle Cent in their collection.
- How much is a 1858 Small Letters Flying Eagle Cent worth?
- A 1858 Small Letters Flying Eagle Cent is valued between $30 and $13000, depending on grade and condition.
eBay Listings
As an eBay Partner, we may be compensated if you make a purchase.