Why The Flying Eagle Penny Is Valuable
The Flying Eagle Cent has a few characteristics that make it quite unique to collectors even with its low denomination. The short amount of time in which the coin was struck for circulation possibly accounts for a large reason why this coin has value among collectors. They were struck for circulation between 1857 and 1858 before being deemed too difficult to strike because the relief was too high.
These coins were composed of 88% copper and 12% nickel and were modeled after the British penny. They were only produced in the Philadelphia (P) mint but do not display mint marks. However, they tend to be valuable to collectors because it is difficult to find pieces that are in good condition. Furthermore, they come in various color tones from various shades of brown including a light grayish brown that many collectors value.
There are also a few coins within the series that are coveted because they have clear distinctions from other coins like the Large Letters Flying Eagle Penny. The ones with the distinct 1857 date are more valuable than 1858, but the short life of this series makes both dates in this series two of the more popular coins for collectors.