1858 Small Letters Proof

The 1858 Small Letters proof Flying Eagle cent was struck in very small quantity alongside the Large Letters proof. The Small Letters proof is scarcer than its Large Letters counterpart, with an estimated mintage of around 80 coins. The lower production figure makes the Small Letters proof one of the rarer proof issues in the Flying Eagle series and a coin that advanced collectors pursue with patience.

The proof striking technique resolves the design's chronic strike-quality problems. The smaller reverse lettering, combined with the proof's enhanced striking pressure, produces a coin where every element is crisp and fully defined. The Small Letters are clearly distinguishable from the Large Letters on proof coins, where the full letter height is preserved without the ambiguity that wear can introduce on circulated examples.

The Small Letters proof is the scarcer of the two 1858 proof varieties and carries a premium over the Large Letters version. A collector building the complete Flying Eagle proof set (1856 pattern, 1857 proof, 1858 Large Letters proof, 1858 Small Letters proof) needs all four coins, and the Small Letters proof is typically the hardest to locate after the 1856. When one surfaces at a major auction, the result reflects both the coin's rarity and the strong demand from proof Flying Eagle collectors.