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Lot 215

1856-1953 Flying Eagles and Indian Head Wheat Pennies

Sold December 11, 2025

Price realized
$475
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Price realized is the winning bid (hammer price) and excludes buyer’s premium.

About this lot

Estimated Value: $700-1,000

Origin: United States

Denomination: One Cent

Year: 1856-1953

Mint: Philadelphia, Denver, and San Francisco

Grade/Condition: Various Conditions, Book not Completed

Metal: Copper

Weight (+/- 0.2g): Estimated Total: 884.46 Grams

Additional Description: The 1856-1953 series of Flying Eagle and Indian Head cents, often preserved in dedicated albums, offers a remarkable window into the evolution of America’s small change. The series begins with the Flying Eagle cent, introduced in 1856, whose delicate design features a soaring eagle in flight and a bold, compact reverse. Though short-lived, this coin marked the transition from large cents to a more practical, smaller format. From 1859 onward, the Indian Head cent carried forward the aesthetic ambition of the Mint. Its obverse portrays Liberty wearing a feathered headdress, a design blending classical inspiration with a nod to Native American iconography, while the reverse evolved from laurel to oak wreaths, reflecting subtle shifts in symbolism and style. Minted in copper and later in bronze, these coins circulated widely, often showing the wear of everyday commerce.

Lot details

Lot
215
Closed
December 11, 2025
Sold $475
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