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The Flying Eagle cent is a one-cent piece struck by the Mint of the United States as a pattern coin in 1856 and for circulation in 1857 and 1858. The coin was designed by Mint Chief Engraver James B. Longacre , with the eagle in flight based on the work of Longacre's predecessor, Christian Gobrecht .
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Longacre is best known for designing the Indian Head cent, which entered commerce in 1859, and for the designs of the Shield nickel, Flying Eagle cent and other coins of the mid-19th century. Longacre was born in Delaware County, Pennsylvania, in 1794. He ran away to Philadelphia at age 12, where he became an apprentice in a bookstore.
Patterns for the Flying Eagle cent were struck in 1854, and proved to be a suitable replacement for the large cent. The small cent was approved for production in 1856, and several thousand 1856 Flying Eagle cents were sold to collectors. Full-scale production commenced in mid-1857, replacing the large cent last struck earlier that year. [13]
1857 (P) 333,456 (P) 238 Proof 1868 (P) c12 Struck in copper for collectors. About a dozen are known to exist. ... Flying Eagle cent, 1856–1858 (Cupronickel) Year ...
The Coinage Act of 1857 repealed prior legal tender laws concerning foreign specie. It fixed the weight and measure of US one-cent pieces at 4.655 grams, which was composed of 88% copper and 12% nickel. It also mandated that this new copper/nickel alloy be received as payment for the worn gold and silver coins turned in at the mint.
It was slightly smaller than a modern U.S. quarter with diameters 22 mm (1793), [1] 23.5 mm (1794–1836), [2] and 23 mm (1840–1857). [3] They were all produced at the Philadelphia Mint. The Coinage Act of February 21, 1857 discontinued the half-cent and the similar large cent, and authorized the small cent (Flying Eagle cent). [4]
Bald Eagle: 1852 United States (Boston, MA) Lost in 1861 195 ft (59 m) Built by Donald McKay; set the record of 78 days 22 hours for a fully laden ship from San Francisco to New York. Carrier Pigeon — 1852 United States : Sank in 1853 175.5 ft (53.5 m) Celestial Empire: 1852 United States (Boston, MA) Abandoned in 1878 193 ft (59 m)