The 12 months 1857 in American historical past included many vital occasions. These included the tragic sinking of the S.S. Central America off the coast of North Carolina, the Panic of 1857 (exacerbated, partially, by the monetary loss from the S.S. Central America) which noticed New York banks shut in October, to not reopen till mid-December of that 12 months, and Congress banned using overseas cash as authorized tender.
Within the numismatic world the Flying Eagle cent was launched for circulation in Might of that 12 months—and collectors at this time nonetheless eagerly get hold of this fashionable collection.
The 1857 Flying Eagle Cent marked a serious shift in copper cents from massive cents to small cents. There have been a number of explanation why this transformation was made. First, the worth of copper was rising, growing the prices to supply massive cents. The second purpose was extra pragmatic. Individuals merely didn’t like them. They had been ugly, heavy and cumbersome.
In 1856, as Congress deliberated on laws that may enable the manufacturing of recent coinage, Mint officers created the 1856 Flying Eagle cent sample coin current. It was nicely obtained and Congress handed the Coinage Act of 1857, authorizing a brand new small cent made out of a mix of copper and nickel.
This Act additionally outlined a course of for Individuals to show of their massive cents in change for the brand new small cent. The general public cherished it and when the Mint started official distribution of the Flying Eagle Cent in Might 1857, lengthy strains fashioned as folks waited to commerce of their outdated cash for the shiny new smaller cent.
Dramatic Coin Design
Mint Chief Engraver James Barton Longacre designed this dramatic coin. The obverse contains a left-facing eagle with its wings outstretched in flight. Across the high, UNITED STATES OF AMERICA encircles the highest two-thirds of the coin, with the date at backside. The picture of the eagle was influenced by work from Longacre’s predecessor, Christian Gobrecht.
On the reverse, an in depth wreath comprised of leaves, corn seed heads, wheat, cotton and tobacco is wrapped in a ribbon. Centered on the reverse are the phrases ONE CENT. All cash had been minted at Philadelphia and so there aren’t any mint marks on the cash.
In Excessive Demand
The Flying Eagle was solely minted till 1858. Putting issues occurred with the high-relief design, which triggered a design shift. The Indian Head cent changed the Flying Eagle in 1859, making the Flying Eagle a short-lived however beloved coin collection. The thrilling historical past, present stopping design and its place in numismatic historical past as the primary small cent make Flying Eagle Cents a extremely collected collection. Collectors sometimes need to purchase the 1856 sample and the 1857 and 1858 cash. Once they emerge on the market, they sometimes don’t final lengthy. Now we have simply one in all these stunning cash. See the 1857 Flying Eagle Cent right here.
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