The idea of a smaller one cent piece with a Flying Eagle on its obverse was patterned by James Longacre in 1854. It is his rendering of Golbrecht's Flying Eagle Half Dollar and Dollar coins minted in the late 1830s. Here's the image (courtesy of uspatterns.com): http://store1.yimg.com/I/uspatterns_1934_186674 NOTE: Longacre also liked the Liberty Seated design used on the silver coins of the late 1830s. Here's AN 1854 CENT Pattern with Liberty Seated (image courtesy of uspatterns.com) (These were weak strikes so the 4 appears to look like a 1): http://store1.yimg.com/I/uspatterns_1886_1093959 Longacre liked the 1854 Flying Eagle Cent results so much, he struck more patterns in 1855. NOTE: He struck them with four different reverses: 2 leaves below "E" 3 leaves below "E" 4 leaves below "E" 5 leaves below "E" This image, courtesy of uspatterns.com, is the 2 leaves variety: http://store1.yimg.com/I/uspatterns_1886_1248684 HERE'S ALL 3 REVERSES (image courtesy of uspatterns): http://uspatterns.com/all318rev.html And, of course, you know the results of those patterns (the 1856 Flying Eagle Cent): (image and data courtesy of Coin Facts): http://www.coinfacts.com/small_cents/flying_eagle_cents/1856_flying_eagle_cent.htm Please let me know if you enjoyed this item... Clinker
Great information Sir, thanks for sharing your knowledge and insight with us. I for one, appreciate it... Many Thanks Ben
Here are the second and fourth links, but I cannot get the third to work. http://store1.yimg.com/I/uspatterns_1886_1093959 ?????? http://store1.yimg.com/I/uspatterns_1886_121907
Bonedigger Ben: Thanks for commenting....My computer crashed and I lost some URL segments during the transfer to a newer and more updated version of Windows Clinker
Uss656 Sorry about the incorrect URLs.... Just two minutes after completing the article on "wordpad" my computer crashed and while transferring the data, a lightning strike caused a momentary shut-off of our electric. I didn't check the URLs for any loss.....bad mistake.... Clinker
tcore Sorry....Just when everything seems to be going well, something like this happens, Thanks for being one of those special people who care enough to let me know of the problem Clinker
rim's cents Thanks for the corrections....I really appreciate your yaking some of your valuable time to locate these two URLs and posting them! Clinker
Thanks for the trivia, despite the problems with links. That first Longacre pattern cent is beautiful. Its too bad the Flying Eagle design didn't stick around for longer, it is one of the better ones.
acanthite And it is our National bird....If Ben Franklin haf his way...it might havr been a male turkey adorning our coinage.... Clinker
Thanks for the trivia as always - I to love the design. As far as Mr. Franklin's desires - that would not have been one of his better achievements.
Uss656 Well, back in those days, Eagles were a pretty common sight, but a beautiful fully plumed "wild" Tom Turkey was a "sight" to behold... and...remember...some whiskey bottler thought so too... Clinker
I suppose you are right although I much prefer Kentucky Bourbon - Jim Beam or Jack as a fall back . When you take into consideration Thanksgiving and other symbols such as the Buffalo on our coins I guess it would have been a very reasonable choice. I am still happy others prevailed and we ended up with the Eagle! I have 12 turkey's that hang outside my office window, if anyone likes Wild Turkey - come and get-em - they keep pecking at their reflection in the window!
Thans for the show, Clinker. I've always loved the Flying Eagle cents and the Indian head cents. Bruce
