1857 Flying Eagle Cent — Philadelphia Mint | James B. Longacre | First Year of Issue | Fine

In 1857, America changed its pocket. The old large copper cent — heavy, expensive to produce and increasingly unpopular — was retired, and in its place came something entirely new: a smaller, lighter coin bearing the image of an eagle in full flight. This is one of those coins. Struck at the Philadelphia Mint in the very first year of regular issue, it is a small piece of genuinely significant American history.

The Flying Eagle cent had an extraordinary debut. When the first coins were released on 25th May 1857, crowds of over a thousand people queued around the Mint building, so eager were they to hold the new currency. The Mint set up outdoor booths in the yard just to keep up with demand. That enthusiasm was short-lived for the design itself — production problems caused by the intricacy of the eagle striking against the dense reverse wreath led to its replacement by the Indian Head cent just two years later in 1859. The Flying Eagle cent was issued for a single year, 1857, and again briefly in 1858, before disappearing entirely. What you see here is from that first, celebrated year.

Designed by James B. Longacre, the United States Mint's Chief Engraver, the obverse shows a bold eagle in mid-flight, wings fully extended, with UNITED STATES OF AMERICA arcing above and the date below. The reverse carries ONE CENT within a neat laurel and oak wreath, tied with a ribbon at the base. The composition is 88% copper and 12% nickel — a departure from the all-copper large cent it replaced, and quite distinct in hand from later American small cents.

This example presents in Fine condition. The eagle retains well-defined feather detail across the wings and body, the legends are sharp and fully legible, and the date is clean and bold. There is honest circulation wear to the high points consistent with a coin that saw real use in its day, and a pleasing natural patina throughout. No cleaning, no damage, no issues. A straightforward, honest example of an historically important American coin.

Extra photographs available on request. Just get in touch and we will be happy to help.