1858 Flying Eagle Cent Proof
Proof struck at the Philadelphia Mint · 200 made
- Mintage
- 200
- Metal
- 88% copper, 12% nickel
- Weight
- 4.67 g
- Diameter
- 19 mm
Original illustration. Tap to flip. Not a photograph of the actual coin.
Face value · Metal value · Small premium · Collector premium · Significant rarity. We use bands because prices change daily.
What is an 1858 Flying Eagle Cent Proof worth?
This is one of the dates collectors hunt for. A genuine 1858 is valuable in any condition, even well worn. That's exactly why fakes and altered coins turn up so often.
What would make yours worth more:
- Grade and, for proofs, strong cameo contrast
- A die variety or minting error
- Certification by PCGS or NGC, which buyers expect for scarce dates
For market prices, check recent sold results for certified coins in the same grade.
Quick answers
- Is the 1858 Flying Eagle Cent Proof rare?
- Fairly. The Mint made 200 for collectors. Most were kept in their original packaging.
- Where is the mint mark on an 1858 Flying Eagle Cent?
- No mint mark. All struck in Philadelphia.
- How many 1858 Flying Eagle Cent proofs were made?
- 200.
What to check on your 1858
- There's no mint mark on this one, so the date and condition are what matter.
- Judge the grade under good light. Look at the eagle's breast and the tips of the wing feathers. The hard alloy often produced weak strikes, so a sharp coin is worth a premium.
Proofs from 1858 were struck one at a time in small numbers and many were later spent or mishandled. Look for hairlines from cleaning, which lower the grade.
The story of the 1858
The first small cents (1856 to 1858)
The Flying Eagle began as a pattern in 1856, when a small number were struck to show members of Congress the proposed copper-nickel cent. Many more were restruck for collectors in the following years. The Act of February 21, 1857 approved a 72 grain coin of 88 percent copper and 12 percent nickel. The public lined up at the Philadelphia Mint in May 1857 to exchange old large cents and Spanish silver for the new coins. Output was 17.45 million in 1857 and 24.6 million in 1858.
The hard alloy and high relief eagle caused trouble. Dies cracked quickly and many coins show weak eagle tail feathers and wreath leaves. The 1857 has clashed die varieties showing traces of other denominations. On 1858 large letters cents the A and M in AMERICA touch, while on small letters cents they are separated. A rare 1858/7 overdate also exists. Survivors are usually light tan to olive in color.
The 1856 Flying Eagle cents were made as patterns, an estimated 2,000 or so pieces including restrikes made for collectors in later years. They were never released for circulation, but because they are listed with the regular series the 1856 is the key to a set. The new cents were released on May 25, 1857, when crowds lined up at the Mint to exchange old large cents and Spanish silver. The 1858/7 overdate is a popular variety.
Elsewhere in US coinage in 1858
The Flying Eagle cent was struck for the last time, in Large Letters and Small Letters varieties, before the Indian Head cent replaced it.
How to recognize it
A small copper-nickel cent showing an eagle in flight with UNITED STATES OF AMERICA around it and the date below. The reverse is a wreath of corn, wheat, cotton and tobacco around ONE CENT. At 19 mm it set the size of the US cent that is still used today. The hard alloy was difficult to strike, so weak feathers on the eagle are common.
Mintage chart
Specifications
| Series | Flying Eagle Cent (1856–1858) |
|---|---|
| Year | 1858 |
| Mint | Philadelphia Mint |
| Mint mark | None |
| Strike type | Proof |
| Mintage | 200 |
| Face value | 1¢ |
| Composition | 88% copper, 12% nickel |
| Weight | 4.67 grams |
| Diameter | 19 mm |
| Edge | Plain |
| Designer | James B. Longacre, after Christian Gobrecht's flying eagle |
Other 1858 Flying Eagle Cent issues
| Coin | Mintage | Type | Silver |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1858 Flying Eagle Cent | 24,600,000 | Circulation strike | – |
| 1858 Flying Eagle Cent Proof | 200 | Proof | – |
| 1858 Flying Eagle Cent Proof (Large letters) | 80 | Proof | – |
Mintage: United States cent mintage figures (Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0), compiled from US Mint records and the Guide Book of United States Coins. How we build these pages.