Flying Eagle Cent: 1856–1858 Dates, Types and Value

In this article

Quick answer

The Flying Eagle cent is the early U.S. small cent with a flying eagle on one side and ONE CENT within a wreath on the other. It uses 88% copper and 12% nickel, not the later copper-plated zinc construction. Ordinary circulating issues are dated 1857 and 1858; 1856 is a separate scarce introductory issue.

The PCGS guide checked October 26, 2026 lists ordinary 1857 regular strikes at $32 in G4, $215 in EF40 and $1,350 in MS63. An 1856 price, Proof price or attributed overdate cannot be applied to an ordinary 1857 cent.

Coin photos

1857 regular-strike Flying Eagle cent: eagle flying left and the date.

Same 1857 copper-nickel cent: ONE CENT and the wreath.

Basics & coin story

In 1857 the Mint replaced the old large cent with a smaller format. Reducing the amount of copper required for each cent addressed a practical production concern, while Longacre’s flying eagle offered a visibly different design. Philadelphia also made large cents dated 1857, so the date alone does not identify the format.

The 1857 regular issue had a recorded mintage of 17,450,000. Its size and copper-nickel alloy make it heavier and often paler than later bronze small cents. Those normal properties do not establish silver content or an off-metal error.

The design was short-lived: the Indian Head cent followed in 1859. Within 1858, Large Letters and Small Letters are separate major entries, with a recognized overdate another attribution question. The Indian Head penny guide covers the successor rather than treating all nineteenth-century small cents as one issue.

Identification at a glance
Feature	What to check
Denomination	1 cent
Designer	James B. Longacre
Principal dates	1856 introductory issue; 1857–1858 circulating issues
Alloy	88% copper, 12% nickel
Nominal weight / diameter	4.70 g / approximately 19 mm
Mint / edge	Philadelphia, no mark / plain
Main 1858 distinction	Large Letters versus Small Letters
Following design	Indian Head cent, beginning in 1859

Identification

Start with the date and the flying eagle

A Flying Eagle cent is a small coin. A perched eagle on a silver half dime or an eagle on a gold denomination is a different design and metal context. The wreath-side ONE CENT confirms the denomination.

Do not borrow 1856 rarity for an ordinary date

The photographed example is an 1857 regular strike. An alleged 1856 needs authentication before a rarity valuation, including examination for altered dates and counterfeit characteristics. Age and a matching eagle outline are not enough.

Keep 1858 lettering and overdates distinct

An 1858 Large Letters or Small Letters attribution must match its actual lettering. A claimed 1858/7 also needs its catalog diagnostics; dirt near the final digit is not an overdate. These are different comparisons from the ordinary 1857 table.

Condition & value

Amounts are in U.S. dollars. PCGS retail-guide examples were checked October 26, 2026 and apply only to the stated issue, grade and designation. They are not guaranteed purchase offers; current market conditions and selling costs can change the amount received.

Value comparisons: match the issue before using a price
Issue	Grade / condition	Value or reference	Basis	Important condition
1857, regular non-PL	G4	$32	PCGS retail guide	Ordinary circulated issue
1857, regular non-PL	EF40	$215	PCGS retail guide	Problem-free exact grade
1857, regular non-PL	MS63	$1,350	PCGS retail guide	Uncirculated reference
1856 / 1858 lettering / overdate / Proof	Exact entry	Compare separately	Other issues	No generic date-series price

Inspect the eagle’s high points and the wreath for wear, then look for corrosion, porosity, rim damage and cleaning. Strike softness is not the same as circulation wear. An attractive color cannot establish a Mint State numerical grade.

The 1857 guide difference between circulated and uncirculated grades is substantial, but a high headline price does not establish the condition of an ungraded coin. Match regular strike, grade, surfaces and any Prooflike designation when comparing completed sales. See the appraisal guide for the distinction between a retail estimate and likely net proceeds.

Summary

Identify the date, small-cent format and exact variety before comparing condition. A normal 1857 or 1858 Flying Eagle cent must not inherit an 1856, Proof or overdate price.

FAQ

Is a Flying Eagle penny silver?

No. Its standard alloy is 88% copper and 12% nickel.

Which Flying Eagle cent dates were made for circulation?

The ordinary circulating issues are 1857 and 1858. The 1856 introductory issue is a separate scarce comparison.

Is no mint mark on a Flying Eagle cent normal?

Yes. The coins were made at Philadelphia without a mint mark.

Can an 1857 cent use an 1856 price?

No. Date, manufacture, variety, grade and surfaces must match the comparison coin.

References

References and further reading

Sources and quoted guide evidence checked October 26, 2026. Guide estimates, historical sales, face value and metal-content calculations are identified separately.