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This is one of my favorite coins. I own 8 of them.
There were only 3 years that flying eagle cents were minted.
In fact, there were so few of them that coin books typically put flying eagle pennies in the same group as indian head pennies.
Little-Known Facts About Flying Eagle Cents:
- The flying eagle cent has a fantastic design of a flying eagle on the front of the coin.
- The designer of this coin was James B. Longacre, who also designed the Indian Head penny.
- This coin had a copper-nickel composition.
- There are 3 different variations of the 1858 flying eagle. Some have UNITED STATES OF AMERICA in small letters. Some have it stamped in larger letters. And some coins have the 8 stamped over a 7.
How Much Are Flying Eagle Cents Worth?
Here’s the value of the flying eagles:
1858 large letters – $24.00-$140.00
1858 small letters – $24.00-$140.00
1858 8 over 7 – $75.00-$800.00
1857 – $24.00-$140.00
1856 – ONE EXPENSIVE BIRD you could call it.
If you’re someone thinking about collecting small cents, this is one you’ll probably never obtain (*pouts*) unless you plan on spending some big $$$. There were only 2,000 of these ever minted. If you own a coin album like I do that has a dated slot to put each coin in, you’ll notice there’s not even a slot for the 1856 flying eagle cent since not many people have them. Prices for an 1856 flying eagle start out at $6,500.00 just for a coin graded “good”, which is a very low grade, all the way up to $20,000.00 for a mint state coin. I don’t think I’ll have the 1856 in my collection anytime soon to join the ’57 and ’58.
I have been collecting and trading coins for years. Coin collecting is a hobby for me, and I’ve done a lot of research about coins through the years.
I’m pretty sure I have a 1856 eagle penny
Lindakelly&@aol.com
Hi Linda,
If you think you have an 1856 Flying Eagle cent, you’ll want to get it authenticated. Here’s some info on 3rd party coin grading and authentication services: https://coins.thefuntimesguide.com/slabbed_coins/
I have a Indain 5 cent 1913 and a flying eagle penny 1856 can someone help me please.
I have an 1858 flying eagle penny stamped with small letters
Hi Mandy,
It sounds like the small letters were stamped on by somebody outside of the U.S. Mint a long time ago, which was a common practice especially during the 19th and early 20th centuries.
Values of such coins are usually lower than the same piece without the counterstamps, but are still really interesting pieces, because they could tell an especially unique story.
Small letters on an 1858 Flying Eagle mean the A & M in America aren’t connected.