Flying Eagle Cents (1856-1858)

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Flying Eagle Cents (1856-1858)

The need to reduce both the size and intrinsic value of the cent was apparent from about 1850 onward. After several years of experimentation, small cents of a copper-nickel alloy were introduced in 1856. These bore the Flying Eagle from Christian Gobrecht's silver dollars of 1836-39 paired with a simple wreath of a type used repeatedly by James B. Longacre for several denominations.

The 1856-dated cents are considered patterns, though ones that were extensively restruck over the next several years. The 1857-58 cents were issued in huge numbers for general circulation before this type was all too quickly retired. All three dates are quite popular with numismatists, and this brief series traditionally has been collected as a prefix to the Indian Head Cents that followed.

Numerous interesting varieties are known for the Eagle Cent. These include the very obvious Large Letters versus Small Letters varieties of 1858, two overdates and even a few die-clash mules. The most desirable of these are included in NGC's VarietyPlus attribution program.

NGC will attribute the Eagle Cent varieties listed below. Those included within The Cherrypickers' Guide to Rare Die Varieties are labeled with Fivaz/Stanton (FS) numbers, while additional varieties employ NGC's VarietyPlus (VP) numbers. A further selection of varieties may be found within the books listed under References and will be of interest to the specialist.

References:

• Breen, Walter. Walter Breen’s Complete Encyclopedia of U.S. and Colonial Coins. New York: Doubleday/FCI Press, 1988.
• Taxay, Don. The U.S. Mint and Coinage. New York: Arco Publishing, 1966.
• Yeoman, R.S., Kenneth Bressett (editor). A Guide Book of United States Coins, 62nd Edition. Atlanta: Whitman Publishing, 2008.
• Bowers, Q. David. A Buyer’s and Enthusiast’s Guide to Flying Eagle and Indian Cents. Wolfeboro, NH: Bowers & Merena Galleries, 1996.
• Snow, Richard. Flying Eagle & Indian Cents. Eagle Eye Press, 1992.
• Fivaz, Bill and J.T. Stanton. The Cherrypickers' Guide to Rare Die Varieties, 5th Edition, Volume 1. Atlanta: Whitman Publishing, 2009.
• Lange, David W. History of the United States Mint & Its Coinage. Atlanta: Whitman Publishing, 2005.
• Snow, Richard. A Guide Book of Flying Eagle & Indian Head Cents. Atlanta: Whitman Publishing, 2006.
• Snow, Richard. The Flying Eagle & Indian Cent Attribution Guide 1856-1858. Eagle Eye Rare Coins. Tuscon, AZ, undated: M & G Publications.