US Small Cents
Fly Eagle cent is the first small cent. It was designed by James Longacre. Its weight was 4.67 grams and 19 mm in diameter. However it was not very popular in those days. Instead of having struck in pure copper, the Fly Eagle was composed 88% copper and 12% nickel, which made it look a little pale. And soon after it was circulated in 1856, it was replaced by Indian Head in 1859.
The Indian Head was considered the most famous of all U.S. coins. The design remained unchanged for half a century. Because the first Fly Eagle cent was diaster because its white color, the Indian Head, designed by James Longacre, was released to resemble the color of copper with the same composition of 88% copper and 12% nickel. The first batch was released in 1859 and totaled up to 36,400,000 pieces. In 1864, the composition of Indian Head was changed to 95% copper and 5% of alloy of tin and zinc. The weight was 4.67 grams and the diameter 19 mm. Indian Head cent is the first U.S. coin stuck in a quantity of more than 100 millions in a year in 1907.
In 1909, Indian Head cent was replaced by Lincoln Head cent. The year 1909 is the 100th anniversary of Abraham Lincoln’s birth. President Roosevelt suggested a image of Lincoln to be placed on the penny and his suggestion was adopted. Lincoln Head was designed by Victor D. Brenner and it was also known VDB cent.
U.S. small cents are for sale on eBay.
