1858 Flying Eagle Cent G–VG

Take Flight With The Elusive Flying Eagle Cent

The Flying Eagle series was struck for circulation only from 1857 to 1858 before being replaced by the famous Indian Head Cent. And therein lies the mystery: why was it replaced so quickly? The 1857 Flying Eagle Cent was so popular that the U.S. Mint set up a booth in the Mint yard to sell the coins to the public. Perhaps it was because the detailed design of an eagle in flight was difficult to strike consistently with quality results. Whatever the reason, the short-lived Flying Eagle Cent is a must-have for any U.S. coin collection, and you can secure the elusive second-year 1858 Flying Eagle Cent here in Good to Very Good (G–VG) condition!

One Of The Most Attractive Cents Ever Minted

The Flying Eagle cent was the work of James Barton Longacre, who was appointed as Chief Engraver of the U.S. Mint on Sept. 16, 1844 after the death of his predecessor, Christian Gobrecht. Longacre himself created most of the new pattern designs during his time as Chief Engraver, though he is said to have leaned heavily on the work of his predecessor—especially in his creation of the Flying Eagle.

Today, the Flying Eagle Cent is considered by many to be the most attractive cent ever minted, showing a flying eagle on the obverse and a “Nature’s Bounty” wreath on the reverse that encloses the denomination. However, the Flying Eagle Cent is the shortest-lived denomination of all cents. These elusive first U.S. copper-nickel coins are still coveted by collectors for their classic eagle design. Grab yours now before they fly out of here!