Small Cents

Designer: James B. Longacre. Diameter: 19mm. Composition: 88% copper, 12% nickel. Weight: 4.7 grams. Edge: Plain.
Minted: 1856-1858. Total Circulation Minted: 42,050,750. Total Proofs Minted: 2180 estimated.
Obverse: Flying Eagle. Reverse: 'One Cent' Inside Wreath.

The flying eagle design was the first 'small cent' design to be minted. They were designed to replace 'Large Cents' due to the fact that the metal content of the large cent became expensive, and it ended up costing the Treasury more to manufacture the coin then the face value.

On the obverse, the flying eagle design from Gobrecht Silver Dollars was adopted by mint director Snowden to be used on this new coin. On the reverse, the wreath of gold dollars and the $3 gold denominations designed by James B. Longacre was used.
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