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1856 Flying Eagle cent value guide -- the famous pre-authorization pattern issue, and grade-by-grade prices.
Condition drives the price — full breakdown below.
Note: a full grade-by-grade breakdown for this coin is still being compiled.
Not an officially authorized circulation issue for 1856 -- small cents weren't legally authorized until the Act of February 21, 1857. The 1856-dated coin is technically a pattern/trial piece that collectors have long treated as a full member of the regular series.
Most surviving proof 1856 cents are believed to be later restrikes made in 1859-1860, not the original 1856 strikes -- the original strikes account for most of the worn, circulated survivors instead.
Other dates and varieties in this series
What to check before you pay, specific to this date and its 2,000-coin mintage.
The same date runs from about $9,332 worn to $30,623 at the top of the scale — a 3× spread. Nearly all of that gap is condition, not the date on the coin, so work out where an example sits on the table above before deciding whether its asking price is fair.
A PCGS or NGC holder settles authenticity and grade in one go, which is most of what you're actually paying for at this level. The premium it adds is small next to the cost of being wrong about either.
Every Flying Eagle Cent listed here is priced by an individual seller, so the same coin in the same grade can differ by a wide margin on any given day. Sort by price, check Metal Points and order history for a sense of the seller's record, and message them if the photos don't show enough to grade confidently.
About the 1856 Flying Eagle Cent
Value depends heavily on condition. A well-worn example brings closer to $9,332, while an uncirculated one can reach $30,623 or more.
Not an officially authorized circulation issue for 1856 -- small cents weren't legally authorized until the Act of February 21, 1857. The 1856-dated coin is technically a pattern/trial piece that collectors have long treated as a full member of the regular series.
For anything you believe is a key date or an error, professional grading protects both buyer and seller by settling condition and authenticity before money changes hands.
The rest of the series, with what each is worth at the top of the grade scale.
List it free on PeerMetals — flat 2.75% seller fee, zero listing fees, 1–3 day payouts.
