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Darter50516 67M
5668 posts
3/6/2022 6:31 pm
way... Way... WAY BACK!



WAY ! Way... way back.



The United States minted Large cents along with half cents. Large Cents have a weight of 10.89 grams and are composed of pure copper beginning in 1795.



Our money was still under the influences of our Colonial past and the large English Penny.



Small Cents are a transition in several respects. Large Cents were still struck through 1857 and the metal composition of the Flying Eagle Cents is not the same as what was used on later issues. Even the thickness and weight of our smaller 1-Cent coin has changed since the first ones appeared. The Large Cent was increasingly unpopular by the 1840s and since the denomination was not legal tender (only silver and gold coins were legal tender in the United States), many merchants and banks refused to accept the coins. Others accepted the Large Cents at deep discounts. What was worse, by 1851, it was costing the Mint $1.06 to strike a Dollar's worth of 1-Cent coins.



Thus was born..... The United States Flying Eagle cent. Mint Director James R. Snowden decided to strike a Small Cent of 88 percent copper and 12 percent nickel at a weight of 4.67 grams. Snowden didn’t choose this mix at random. He was being lobbied heavily by Joseph Wharton along with his monopoly of nickel mines to use an alloy including this Nickel.



There was a design "flaw" The Eagle tended to crack and break the dies used for stamping the coins.



In 1859 the Indian Head Cent Composed of (1859–1864) 88% copper, 12% nickel
(1864–1909) 95% copper, 5% tin and zinc. In the postwar period, the cent became very popular and was struck in large numbers in most years


Darter50516 67M
3857 posts
3/6/2022 6:41 pm

Walked out to the mailbox Saturday afternoon and there was my second Flying Eagle cent. Better grades can be a bit pricey, however, if you just want one to have one nice example may be had for $15 -$25


Hungr4Yungr 75M
803 posts
3/6/2022 9:43 pm

Glad you got your 2nd flying eagle cent to add to your extensive collection. I have a friend who inherited a coin and note collection from all over the world. It is interesting to look at, but I have no idea if it is worth anything.. Some is very old, other is more modern.


Darter50516 67M
3857 posts
3/7/2022 5:08 am

    Quoting Hungr4Yungr:
    Glad you got your 2nd flying eagle cent to add to your extensive collection. I have a friend who inherited a coin and note collection from all over the world. It is interesting to look at, but I have no idea if it is worth anything.. Some is very old, other is more modern.
Only about 42 M were made, an incredibly beautiful coin, but woefully difficult to manufacture.


Maudie1 74F
8151 posts
3/7/2022 12:38 pm

Very interesting coin collection indeed.


Darter50516 67M
3857 posts
3/7/2022 1:56 pm

    Quoting Maudie1:
    Very interesting coin collection indeed.
You probably remember pounds, shillings, and pence... with those BIG Pennies.