The Flying Eagle Small Cent was minted as a pattern to show Congress what the new penny would look like in 1856. It weighs only 4.67 grams and is 88% copper and 12% nickel, unlike the previous, heavier large cents which were entirely copper. All of these coins were minted at the Philadelphia Mint. The coin was minted from 1856 to 1858, however, only about 2,000 1856 coins are known to exist. The coin has a bird flying towards the left of the coin, with the date below and "UNITED STATES OF AMERICA" above, going around the bird to the left and right sides. The reverse consists of another wheat ring with "ONE CENT" in the middle. Because "UNITED STATES OF AMERICA" is on the obverse, it is not on the reverse, as with the large cents.

Minted from 1859 to 1909, this coin had a long history. With the same dimensions as the flying eagle cents, but with a different design, these coins were far more popular than the large cents. The 1859 variety consisted of Lady Liberty wearing an Indian headdress, looking to the left, on the obverse. As with all the other years, this is not portraying an actual Native American/Indian. "UNITED STATES" is towards the left of the coin and "OF AMERICA" is towards the right. The date is on the bottom. The reverse consists of a laurel wreath, similar to the Flying Eagle Small Cents and previous large cents. For 1860 to 1864, the coin was the same on the obverse, but contained an oak wreath on the revserse and a shield up top. These coins were coined only at the Philadelphia Mint.

Minted from 1864 to the end of the series in 1909, this coin is 3.11 grams and was minted with 95% copper and 5% tin and zinc, due to a decrease in nickel. The obverse and reverse looked the same. These were coined at Philadelphia and San Francisco mints.

Several years were skipped, but the Indian Head Small Cent was minted throughout that entire time. The Lincoln Wheat Cents were commemorating the 100th anniversary of Abraham Lincoln's birthday. V.D.B, the designer's initials, appear on a small quantity of 1909 pennies, but Congress was upset, so it was removed. From 1909 to 1942, the coin weighs 3.11 grams, as with the Indian Head Cent, with the same materials and quantity as the Indian Heads.  These coins were minted at Philadelphia, Denver, and San Francisco mints. They contain Lincoln in the middle, facing to the right, with "LIBERTY" to his left, and the year to his right, with the mint mark below. Philadelphia coins have no mintmark. "IN GOD WE TRUST" is above his head. The revser consists of "ONE CENT" in the middle, with "UNITED STATES OF AMERICA" below it. "E PLURIBUS UNUM" is above, where "IN GOD WE TRUST" is on the obverse. Two pieces of wheat are to the left and right of the reverse. This coin was also minted from 1944 to its end in 1958.

This coin, minted in only 1943, looks the same as the bronze versions, but is made of steel with a zinc coating. It weighed only 2.70 grams and is attracted to magnets, so if you find a bronze 1943, check it with a magnet before saying you have a valuable error. The US Government needed copper for the war. I have heard non-collectors say, "I didn't know they made a silver penny." It's not silver, just steel coated with zinc.

They went back to the previous version with 95% copper and 5% zinc/zinc and tin.

These coins contain 95% copper and 5% zinc or zinc and tin. Minted from 1959 to 1982, these coins contain copper. The obverse is the same as the wheat cents, however, the revserse contains the Lincoln Memorial in the middle with "E PLURIBUS UNUM" above and
"UNITED STATES OF AMERICA" abobe that. "ONE CENT" is below the memorial.  This coin was minted for the 150th anniversary of Lincoln's birth.