 The flying eagle design was adopted for a large issue of experimental patterns given to government officials and others in 1856 ; that coin was then used for the regular issue from 1857 . The reverse featured Longacre 's cereal wreath , which led to difficulties in coining ; the head and tail of the eagle on the obverse opposed the wreath , making those design points particularly hard to strike in the tough copper @-@ nickel alloy which was used . Beginning in 1859 , the cent featured a Longacre design of Liberty wearing a Native American headdress . What is called the " laurel wreath " , though actually olive , adorned the reverse of the cent in 1859 ; beginning in 1860 , a reverse with an oak wreath and shield was placed on the cent . The replacement of the wreath is for reasons unknown ; the shield was added because of Snowden 's desire to give the coin a " more national character " . This reverse is generally credited to Longacre ; Snow speculates that it may have been created by Assistant Engraver Anthony C. Paquet . 
