PCGS Graded Flying Eagle Penny

Graded Flying Eagle Cents

The flying eagle penny was produced from 1857-1858. It was the first small sized penny or one cent us coin. It gets its name from the eagle on the front of the coin. On the back the words ONE CENT are surrounded by a wreath.

A few Flying Eagle cents (estimated between 1000 and 2000) were actually made in 1856 as pattern. These coins were supposed to have been destroyed, however, for unknown reasons some of them were not. The coins that managed to slip by and avoid destruction are very valuable as they are extremely rare.

The Flying Eagle Cent was made of 88% copper and 12% nickel which earned them the nickname "Nicks" or nickels. They were also known as the white cent since previous pennies were made of solid copper and were much darker.

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 strike.

Listed below is a selection of PCGS Graded Flying Eagle Cents for sale.