U.S. Civil War Pennies Collection (Three Coins)

These one cent coins show the three designs of pennies used during the Civil War: the Coronet large cent, the Flying Eagle cent, and the Indian Head cent.

Although each design was used during the war, the coins you receive may be dated any time between 1816 and 1909.

Large Cents (1816 - 1857)

The first of these, the large cents, were initially struck in 1793, where it would be the first official United States coin to be struck at the Philadelphia Mint. At this time in the US, gold and silver were legal tender, but copper coins were not; the federal government wouldn’t redeem copper cents or take them as payment for taxes. By the 1840s, however, monetizing the copper penny helped fund the mint. By 1849, copper prices rose, which caused the Department of Treasury to look into alternatives to these large coins. They were also unpopular in daily life, given they were not legal tender and no one had to take it, and their large size made them difficult to transport. Large cents would be discontinued in 1857, replaced by the Flying Eagle Cent.

Flying Eagle Cent (1857 - 1858)

Designed by James B. Longacre, the Flying Eagle Cent featured an eagle in flight and was composed of 88% copper and 12% nickel. This coin was much smaller, with early experiments in the coin’s design being about the size of a quarter before finally being shrunk to about the size that became the standard for the modern penny, although the flying eagles were somewhat thicker. It was originally minted in 1856, and pieces were distributed to various congressman and officials in order to secure public acceptance of the new coinage. The design was replaced after three years due to difficulties in the striking process.

Indian Head Cent (1859 - 1909)

Following the Flying Eagle cent, the Indian Head cent was introduced in 1859, also designed by Longacre. It featured a Native American figure on the obverse and initially a laurel wreath on the reverse, later replaced by an oak wreath with a shield in 1860. The features of the Indian Head cent are noticeably Caucasian, although the exact inspiration for the portrait remains unknown. The coin's composition changed in 1864 to bronze due to the scarcity of nickel during the Civil War. The Indian Head cent became immensely popular and was produced in large quantities until it was replaced by the Lincoln cent in 1909.

Each includes a Certificate of Authenticity and is guaranteed genuine.