Grading the Flying Eagle Cent
The Flying Eagle cent (1856–1858) was the first small cent, made of a pale, hard 'white' copper-nickel alloy (88% copper, 12% nickel), so it does not show the red/brown colors of later copper pennies. An eagle flies across the front; a wreath circles ONE CENT on the back. The big grading point: the eagle's head and tail and the wreath are often weakly struck even on brand-new coins, so soft detail there is usually from striking, not wear, don't confuse the two. The famous rarity is the 1856, which is technically a pattern (only ~2,000 made) and is heavily faked, often by altering an 1858. Also learn the 1858 Large Letters vs Small Letters (whether the A and M of AMERICA touch).
At a glance
| Years | 1856–1858 |
|---|---|
| Designer | James B. Longacre |
| Denomination | Cents |
| Composition | Copper-nickel ('white cent'): 88% copper, 12% nickel, a hard, pale alloy, NOT bronze; nicknamed the 'white cent.' Because it is not a red copper alloy, the RD/RB/BN color designations used for bronze cents do NOT apply. |
| Diameter | 19.0 mm |
| Weight | 4.67 g (sometimes cited 4.70 g; struck on the 72-grain small-cent standard) |
| Edge | Plain |
| Mints | Philadelphia (no mintmark) |
Major subtypes
| Subtype | Years |
|---|---|
| 1856 (pattern issue) | 1856, struck as a pattern to show officials the proposed small cent; collected as the series key (~1,500–2,150 pieces incl. restrikes) |
| 1857 | 1857, first officially authorized small cent (Act of Feb. 21, 1857); first high-mintage business-strike year |
| 1858 Large Letters | 1858, the A and M of AMERICA are joined at their bases; the more common 1858 style |
| 1858 Small Letters | 1858, the A and M of AMERICA are separated; scarcer than Large Letters |
Where wear shows first
- Eagle's head and the leading edge of the wing/breast (first to show friction)
- Eagle's tail feathers (also a strike-weak area, judge carefully)
- High points of the wreath leaves on the reverse
Other points to check
- Tips of the eagle's wing feathers
- Lettering of UNITED STATES OF AMERICA and ONE CENT on heavily circulated pieces
Common weak-strike areas
- Eagle's tail feathers, typically soft even on Mint State coins regardless of date (the single most characteristic strike weakness of the series)
- Eagle's head and breast, central high points opposite the wreath; frequently mushy from incomplete metal fill
- The reverse wreath (high relief of the leaves/ears), directly opposite the eagle, so it competes for metal and is often weak
Strike designations
No strike designation applies, and no RD/RB/BN color designation applies (this is a copper-nickel 'white cent' alloy, not bronze). Proof and Cameo designations apply to the proof issues.
Grading circulated coins
Grade on the eagle's head, breast, and wing first, then the wreath high points. Because the head, tail, and wreath are also chronic weak-strike areas, distinguish softness-from-striking (full luster, no flatness from rub) from honest wear (friction breaks, loss of luster). Even well-worn coins usually retain bold legends because the lettering is in lower relief than the central devices.
Grading Mint State coins
Mint State grading turns largely on luster and surface marks rather than on the (often soft) tail feathers. The hard copper-nickel alloy resists contact marks well, so bag-mark damage is less severe than on softer coins; the chief MS challenge is that many examples are dull, either as struck or from environmental exposure. AU58 is reserved for the least-worn pieces showing only the faintest friction on the highest design points. The pale 'white cent' alloy gives these coins a distinctive grayish look unlike the warm tones of bronze cents.
Proof grading
Proof Flying Eagle cents exist for 1856, 1857, and 1858 (Large and Small Letters), plus Cameo examples for 1858. Many, especially 1856, lack the deep mirror finish of later Indian-cent proofs because the dies were incompletely polished; surfaces can look semi-prooflike. Most high-grade 1856 pieces are proofs, and many are restrikes made 1858 or later from the original dies; authenticate proof-vs-business-strike status carefully on 1856.
Key dates
- 1856, the famous series key; technically a pattern (~1,500–2,150 made), heavily counterfeited/altered (often from an 1858)
Semi-key dates
- 1858 Small Letters, scarcer of the two 1858 major varieties
Major varieties
- 1858 Large Letters vs Small Letters, joined A–M of AMERICA = Large, separated = Small
- 1858/7 overdate, an 1857 die reused with the 8 over the 7; 'Strong' and 'Weak' forms, scarce
Common problems
- Dull/impaired luster, very common, whether as-made or from environmental conditions; a primary limiter on MS grades
- Improper cleaning, the pale alloy shows hairlines and unnatural brightness readily; cleaned coins are net-graded down or get a Details/no-grade
- Environmental damage, spotting, and corrosion; PVC residue
- Weak strike misread as wear (or vice versa), leading to over- or under-grading
Signs of cleaning or damage
- Hairline scratches in the fields from wiping/polishing
- Unnatural brightness or a 'washed-out' gray surface inconsistent with original copper-nickel luster
- Pitting/granularity from corrosion or harsh dipping
Toning
RD/RB/BN copper color designations do NOT apply, this is a copper-nickel ('white') alloy, not red bronze. Original surfaces are a pale steel-gray to light tan; coins do not turn 'mint red.' Mottled, dark, or splotchy toning generally reflects environmental exposure and detracts.
Counterfeit & alteration risks
- 1856: among the most altered/faked small cents, commonly created by altering an 1858 (reshaping the last digit to a 6) or by outright cast/struck counterfeits; authenticate via known die diagnostics before grading
- 1858/7 overdate: 'strong overdate' examples carry premiums, so weak/normal 1858s are sometimes misrepresented; confirm the overdate diagnostics
For the advanced grader
Strike-vs-wear discrimination is the core skill: the eagle's tail feathers are soft on virtually all examples including Mint State, and the head/breast and reverse wreath (directly opposed in the dies) routinely come up weak. Read luster continuity across the high points to separate mint-made softness from friction. The hard alloy resists marks, so MS grade is driven by luster quality and originality more than by abrasions; many coins are dull as-made, capping grades. For 1856, authenticate first (pattern status, original vs restrike, proof vs business strike) and beware alterations from 1858. Confirm the 1858 sub-variety via the A–M of AMERICA and check for the 1858/7 overdate. No color (RD/RB/BN) designation applies to this copper-nickel alloy.
Photographic examples
Click any image to enlarge and zoom. Where shown, obverse, reverse, and edge views are of the same coin and year.
Sources: Professional Coin Grading Service (PCGS) · Numismatic Guaranty Company (NGC) · Coin World
Evidence pages
Related terms
Weak Strike · Wear · Luster · Altered Date · Cleaned · Proof