Liberty Nickels 1883 - 1913
In the early 1850s, the United States Mint replaced the Large Cent with the Flying Eagle Cent due to the rising cost of copper, which made the production of the Large Cent impractical.
The design of the Flying Eagle Cent was the result of a competition held by the United States Mint won by James B. Longacre, the Chief Engraver of the Mint at the time. Longacre's design featured an eagle in flight on the obverse (front) side of the coin. The reverse (back) side depicted the denomination "ONE CENT" surrounded by a wreath.
The introduction of this new coin was a result of the Mint's efforts to adapt to a changing economy and create a more economical form of currency. The coin's composition consisted of 88% copper and 12% nickel, giving it a white appearance. This composition was later adjusted to 95% copper and 5% tin and zinc in 1857.
Due to the complexity of the design, the dies used in the minting process wore out quickly, leading to production delays and higher costs. These issues prompted the Mint to consider alternative designs for the one-cent coin. Due to its limited production period of only 3 years, the Flying Eagle Cent has become a sought-after coin among collectors. Today, Flying Eagle Cents are considered numismatic treasures.