1857 Flying Eagle Cent (1c)

The 1857 Flying Eagle cent holds the distinction of being America's first small cent, marking a pivotal transition in U.S. coinage history. After decades of the unwieldy large cent, the Mint finally introduced this more practical size that would become the standard. Despite a substantial mintage of over 24 million pieces, most examples were heavily circulated, making uncirculated survivors like this one genuinely scarce.

This CAC-approved MS62 displays excellent eye appeal for the grade, with warm original copper-brown surfaces that exhibit vibrant cartwheel luster. The strike is sharp throughout, and the coin shows minimal contact marks - just enough to keep it from a higher grade. Both sides are remarkably clean with smooth, attractive surfaces that really make this coin stand out. A superb example of this important first-year issue.