Dan Hughes
Sr. Member
In 1856, the United States Mint decided to do away with the penny that had been used since the beginning. The half-dollar-sized cent was replaced with a new penny the same size as the one we use today.
The Flying Eagle cent stole its design from the silver dollar of 20 years earlier. The eagle on the back of that coin was used as the front of the new penny.
The Flying Eagle cent was minted for just three years. Or two, if you don't count the experimental coins made in 1856.
Why did the U.S. switch from big to small pennies? Why was the Flying Eagle cent replaced after so short a time? How much is that experimental 1856 Flying Eagle penny worth today?
Listen at In the Corner with Dan Hughes.
