Small
Cent collecting is enjoyed by perhaps more coin collectors than any other
field of coins other than Morgan silver dollars. Most are easy to find and,
with the exception of some key dates, values are generally modest.
Small Cents begin with the Flying Eagle Cents of 1856 to 1858, a short but
surprisingly challenging series.
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.
