Flying Eagle Penny: A Glimpse into Numismatic History

Small cent collecting has gotten complicated with all the varieties and price swings flying around. As someone who chased down every Flying Eagle penny I could find over years of coin shows and dealer catalogs, I learned everything there is to know about this short-lived but fascinating series. Today, I will share it all with you.

Why the Mint Needed a Smaller Penny

Before 1857, pennies were big. The old large copper cents were heavy, clunky, and annoying to carry around. By the mid-1800s, copper prices had climbed high enough that the Mint was spending more to make the coins than they were actually worth. Something had to change.

The Flying Eagle cent solved the problem by shrinking the one-cent coin and reducing its copper content. It was a practical fix driven by economics — not some grand design decision. The Mint needed a penny that was cheaper to produce and easier for people to use in everyday transactions.

James Barton Longacre’s Design

Probably should have led with this section, honestly. The design is what makes these coins so appealing to collectors. James Barton Longacre, the Mint’s Chief Engraver, based his eagle design on an earlier pattern used on the Gobrecht dollar. The obverse shows an eagle mid-flight — a symbol of strength and freedom that resonated with the era. The reverse is straightforward: a wreath framing the words “One Cent.”

Longacre started producing pattern coins in 1856 and distributed them to members of Congress and other officials to build support for the new denomination. Those 1856 patterns are exceptionally rare today and command serious money at auction.

Production Numbers

Once Congress gave the green light, regular production kicked off in 1857. The Philadelphia Mint struck over 17 million that first year and about 24 million in 1858. That’s a lot of coins for a two-year run — but production stopped after 1858 because of persistent manufacturing problems.

The Striking Problems Nobody Could Fix

That’s what makes the Flying Eagle penny endearing to us numismatists — it was beautiful but impractical. Longacre’s eagle design was too detailed for the small planchet, and the dies wore out fast. The coins also showed wear quickly in circulation, which frustrated both the Mint and the public. Despite multiple attempts to refine the striking process, the problems persisted.

These issues are exactly why well-struck Flying Eagles command premium prices today. A sharply detailed example is genuinely hard to find.

Enter the Indian Head Penny

By 1859, the Mint had given up on making the Flying Eagle design work. Longacre replaced it with the Indian Head penny — also his design — which struck much more cleanly on the small planchet. The Indian Head became one of the longest-running series in U.S. coinage, lasting until 1909.

What Collectors Look For

The Flying Eagle penny’s short production run and inherent striking challenges make it a standout collectible.

The Key Dates

• 1856: The pattern coin. Very few were minted and they’re treated more like pattern pieces than regular issues. Expect to pay thousands for even a lower-grade example.
• 1857: First year of general circulation. More available than the 1856, but nice examples still fetch solid prices.
• 1858: Produced in larger quantities. The interesting wrinkle here is the small letter vs. large letter varieties — differences in the size of the lettering on the reverse that most casual collectors would never notice but that serious collectors absolutely care about.

Completing the set means getting both 1858 letter varieties, which adds an extra layer of challenge that keeps things interesting.

What the Flying Eagle Meant for U.S. Coinage

Even though it lasted just two years, the Flying Eagle proved that small cents were viable. It showed the Mint and Congress that reducing the size of the one-cent coin worked — it was cheaper to make, easier to use in commerce, and the public accepted it. That demonstration paved the way for every small cent that followed, right up to the zinc pennies we use today.

For collectors and historians, the Flying Eagle remains an essential piece of the American coinage story. Its brief run and distinctive design guarantee it’ll keep attracting attention for as long as people collect coins.