The Flying Eagle cent is a one cent coin struck by the United States Mint from 1856 to 1858. The coin was designed by Mint Chief Engraver James B. Longacre, with the eagle in flight based on the work of Longacre's predecessor, Christian Gobrecht.
By the early 1850s, the large cent being issued by the Mint was becoming both unpopular in commerce and expensive to coin. After experimenting with various sizes and alloys, the Mint decided on an alloy of 88% copper and 12% nickel for the new, smaller cent. The use of nickel for coinage would benefit industrialist Joseph Wharton, who produced most of that metal in North America, and who was influential in Congress and at the Mint. After the Mint produced pattern coins with an 1856 date which were given to legislators and officials, Congress passed the necessary legislation in February 1857.
The new cent was highly successful, with many being issued in exchange for the worn foreign coin which had circulated in the U.S. until then. However, so many cents were soon issued that they choked commercial channels, especially as they were not legal tender and no one had to take them. The eagle design did not strike well, and was replaced in 1859 by Longacre's Indian Head cent.
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