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Message:: [QUOTE="Collecting Nut, post: 6689872, member: 74863"]The last large cent was produced in 1857 with small and large dates. The total mintage was 333,546. The changes were brought about because the cost of making and distributing copper coins had risen. James Snowden, the Mint Director, reported that they "barely paid expenses." At the same time, both half cents and large cents had become unpopular in circulation. The 1857 Half Cent only had a mintage of 35,180 coins. Cents and half cents were the first coins struck for circulation by the United States. Production started in 1793. That law specified that the Cent should weigh exactly twice as much as the Half Cent. Circulation outside of large cities of these two coins was almost unheard of. The practice of issuing silver coinage, which began in 1853 brought about the change of copper coinage. The law of 1857 brought important benefits to the citizens of the US. The half cent and the large cent we're both abandoned in 1857. The law also took Spanish coins and redeemed them, melting them at the mint in exchange for the new smaller Cents. The decimal system became popular and the old method of reckoning in reales, medios, shillings and so on was given up but the term two bits and Penny were still commonly used. The new Convenient smaller cent won popular favor and soon became very useful in retail bringing a boom to commerce. The act of February 21, 1857 provided for the new copper-nickel small cent. It also called for Spanish and Mexican coins, Half Cents and Large Cents in circulation to be brought in and exchanged for US silver coins and the new smaller cents. The cent weighed 72 grains and contained a composition of 88% copper and 12% nickel. The 1856 flying eagle cent was a pattern coin. It was made to show Congress how the new Cent would look. Between 2000 and 3000 pieces were struck in proof for sale to collectors. They are difficult to come by because of the early widespread popularity of the flying eagle Cent.[ATTACH=full]1270058[/ATTACH]The 1857 and 1858 pieces contain a number of varieties. The 1858 has two major varieties. A large letter variety, were the last "A" in America almost touches the Eagles left wing. There is also space between the top of the Eagles right wing between the "F" in the word "OF" and the "A" in AMERICA as noted in the photo below. This photo also shows a die crack running through the word AMERICA.[ATTACH=full]1270068[/ATTACH]The small letters show on the photo below. This photo shows a weak strike, possibly from a grease filled Die.[ATTACH=full]1270069[/ATTACH]The reverse on all Flying Eagle Cents is the same.[ATTACH=full]1270067[/ATTACH] There is also in 1858, 8/7, variety. This can be identified by a small dot in the field just above the last 8. This was caused by the die being ground down until the seven was invisible but the very corner of the 7 seems to show on some varieties making them more desirable.[/QUOTE]

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