Flying Eagle Cent

1856–1858

The first small-size US cent, replacing the old large copper cent that had grown too expensive to produce at face value. Struck for only three years, its short run and famous 1856 issue -- technically a pattern coin struck before Congress had even authorized the new size -- make it one of the shortest, most tightly collected series in American numismatics. James B. Longacre's flying eagle design was replaced by his own Indian Head design starting in 1859.