1857 1C Flying Eagle Cent PCGS MS65 (CAC)

1857 1C Flying Eagle Cent PCGS MS65 (CAC)--$4,425.00

      We at AUCM are pleased to present for consideration a dramatic example of the 1857 Flying Eagle cent in Gem mint state. The Flying Eagle cent was among the shortest-lived coin series in American numismatics (1856-1858). This piece would make a great entry in a type set of classic U.S. coins or in a set of cents from throughout American history.  Ron Guth writes, "In 1857, the U.S. Mint produced two different Cents: the old style Large Cent and a new, smaller cent with an eagle flying left across the obverse. One of the motivating factors for the creation of the new 'Small' Cent was the high price of copper. Each new Small Cent required less than half the amount of copper than the Large Cent, yielding significant savings for the U.S. Treasury." When introducing the new sized cent, the mint produced 17,450,000 Flying Eagle cents. It was therefore the first cent with a mintage that was over 10 million pieces.

      The obverse was designed by chief engraver James B. Longacre, and was based upon the design found on the Gobrecht dollar, which was minted in small quantities from 1836 to 1839. We do not know for sure what Longacre's model was, however some sources tell us that the bird in flight was inspired by Peter the eagle, a tame bird that lived in the Mint building. He was fed by laborers at the Mint in the early 1830s until he flew into equipment and was killed. Peter was stuffed and can still be seen at the Philadelphia mint today. Longacre's eagle has its admirers. Art historian Cornelius Vermeule writes that the flying eagle motif, when employed in the 1830s, was "the first numismatic bird that could be said to derive from nature rather than colonial carving or heraldry."