1856 Flying Eagle Penny Views

• General Goods

The 1856 Flying Eagle Cent is a pattern issue (Judd 180/Pollock 212, 215 and 218) struck in considerable numbers. Approximately 700 pieces were produced for distribution to members of the Congress and Senate to show the proposed design and format. The Mint later produced approximately 1,500 restrikes in proof format for collectors during 1857 and 1858.

Perhaps the reason the Flying Eagle Penny was produced for such a short time was minting problems. Since there were two high points on opposite sides of the coin, there was a weakness in the strikeStrikingThis refers to the process by which a coin is minted. It could also refer to the sharpness of design details. For example, a sharp or strong strike will show all of the details struck very sharply, but a weak strike will show details lightly on those points.

Flying Eagle cents have proved enormously popular over the decades, beginning with the pattern issue of 1856. It is unclear exactly how many 1856 cents were struck, but the best estimates fall in the range of 800 to as many as 1,500 pieces. Both proofs and business strikes were made, as well as originals and restrikes. All are valuable and have been extensively hoarded over the years, the most famous hoard of which came from the estate of Colonel John A. Beck, who at one time owned 531 pieces. The 1856 Flying Eagle cent is one of the few American coins whose value is greater than its rarity. Worth more than $2,000 in Good condition, the 1856 cent has a value and interest to collectors of U.S. coinage that goes far beyond the more limited scope of penny collectors. Why? The only reasonable answer seems to be: because they always have been valuable. Even in the late 1850s, 1856 cents were worth a dollar or two depending on condition.

Collectors of Flying Eagle cents have several ways to collect these coins. A complete date and variety set is possible and consists of only five issues: 1856, 1857, 1858 Small Letters, 1858 Large Letters and 1858/7. These are often collected in conjunction with the Indian Head series. Type collectors generally stick to the 1857 or one of the two 1858 issues. More advanced numismatists often assemble sets of the pattern coinage of this design. Proofs are extremely rare, except in the case of the 1856, and probably less than a total of 100 proofs exist of the three issues from 1857 and 1858.