Goldberg Coins and Collectibles

Sale 8

Coin and Currency Auction

Small Cents

Lot	Photo	Description	Realized
Lot 1163		1856 Flying Eagle Cent. MS-63. The key date of the Flying Eagle series, this important coin has a mintage estimated at just 1,500 pieces. Some were struck in Proof, others as regular mint issues with typical uncirculated surfaces as offered here. Well struck, including the tiny feathers on the eagle's breast and wing tips. We note one minor edge mark near the left cotton leaf on the reverse. Choice medium brown in color. By 1851 the Mint was faced again with the problem that cents cost more to produce than face value. Calculations were made that production costs were then $1.06 per hundred. Furthermore, the public was tired of the large cents, they often circulated at a discount to silver and gold coins, and merchants quoted two different prices for merchandise depending on what coins were being used for the purchase, less for copper, more for silver or gold. In order to relieve the problem, these small copper-nickel cents were produced at a much lower cost. The proved immediately popular with merchants and collectors alike. One of the most desirable small cents, and always in feverish demand. Estimated Value $5,000 - 6,500. From the Howard R. Newcomb collection of Indian Cents, purchased June 30, 1944 from J.G. Macallister. View details and enlarged photos	Realized $7,188
Lot 1164		1857 Flying Eagle Cent. PCGS graded MS-65. A resplendent gem that boasts lovely mint color and is free of all but the most minute contact marks. Several of the letters on the obverse show recutting. An excellent example for the specialist. Estimated Value $2,500 - 3,500. Purchased from Ira S. Reed on 2/26/44 for $2.50. View details and enlarged photos	Realized $3,450
Lot 1165		1857 Flying Eagle Cent. PCGS graded MS-65. A bright and frosty coin that boasts a sharp strike and delicate gold toning. There is a small lump noted on the upper wing of the eagle, which will help attribute the die variety. Scarce in full gem condition, and perfect for the advanced type collector. Estimated Value $2,500 - 3,000. View details and enlarged photos	Realized $3,220
Lot 1166		1857 Flying Eagle Cent. PCGS graded MS-64. A bright, lustrous near gem that is boldly struck and very appealing. Splendid surfaces and nearly free of any signs of contact. If you have been searching for a really delightful example of this three year type coin, then look no further than this piece. Estimated Value $750 - 1,000. From the Howard R. Newcomb Collection of Indian Cents, purchased June 30, 1944 from J.G. Macallister. View details and enlarged photos	Realized $2,185
Lot 1167		1857 Flying Eagle Cent. PCGS graded MS-64. Nearly a gem, the surfaces show few signs of contact, and the coin has sunset gold luster in the lettering. Estimated Value $600 - 700. View details	Realized $1,783
Lot 1168		1857 Flying Eagle Cent. NGC graded MS-64. This one has traces of a fingerprint on the reverse, with faded mint color and a typical strike for the issue. Estimated Value $500 - 550. View details	Realized $604
Lot 1169		1857 Flying Eagle Cent. PCGS graded MS-63. Nice for the grade, this one boasts mint fresh luster and excellent surfaces. Sharply struck, even on the eagle's breast, and a few minor die breaks are seen along the rims. The Philadelphia Mint had trouble with these hard planchets, which were alloyed with nickel, these caused rapid die wear and breakage. Estimated Value $375 - 425. View details	Realized $1,006
Lot 1170		1857. Snow-9, FS1-003. MS-60. Here is a remarkable coin. The obverse die was clashed with the obverse of a Seated Liberty half dollar! Note the backwards outline of the seated Liberty figure surrounding the flying eagle, her arm, pole and shin all show. The arm holding the shield shows strongly through the centers of the letters in AMERICA. The two dies were aligned with a medal turn (top to top). Curiously, no seated half is known with the corresponding clash marks, and no impression has been found of a Flying Eagle cent and Seated Half dollar combination. This variety has long been considered a die cud variety, but it was correctly identified by Bill Fivaz in 1977 as clashed with the seated half dollar obverse. The coin itself boasts mint fresh luster throughout and a strong strike. Clean surfaces and free of all but a single tiny speck left of the date, which will serve to identify this rarity in the future. Boldly struck on the eagle, including the breast and wing tips, and the wreath is similarly well made. There is a minor low area at the top of the coin, perhaps from the clashed dies, or some other minor event in coining. A foremost rarity that will be the highlight of an advanced collection. How did this come about? Research by Richard Snow authored an excellent article entitled "The Midnight Minter" with his theory of who was responsible for this strange clashed die combination. Snow believes it was Frederick Eckfeldt, son of George Eckfeldt, the Foreman of the Mint. Frederick had been fired, from his employment at the mint for stealing as a boy, but was rehired in 1857 as the night watchman. Thus the young Eckfeldt has access to the coining presses and leftover planchets, and any dies that happened to be in the presses at the time. Later, he even had access to the die vault. Soon Frederick Eckfeldt was placing mismatched dies in the presses, and running off a few oddities, a half dollar and cent combination as offered here, a quarter and cent mule, even a $20 gold Liberty obverse with a cent obverse! These creations were either not taken out of the Mint, or were retrieved and remelted. Obviously the dies clashed, much sharper than normal because no collar could be used with the dies of mismatched sizes. Later, Eckfeldt began striking coins for profit, and he is probably responsible for the 1840-48 half cent proof restrikes, the 1827 quarter restrike and some of the strange Flying Eagle patterns. Snow believes Eckfeldt is responsible for the 1801-03 proof dollars and 1804 plain edge dollars. Soon, there was a scandal, and Eckfeldt's coining days were reigned in. About 10 are known in various mint state grades, with less than 100 known in all of this important variety. Don't expect the moderate premium to remain low on these as more and more collectors desire an example. Estimated Value $1,000 - 2,000. View details	Unsold
Lot 1171		1857 Flying Eagle Cent. Sharpness of MS-60 but a few marks. Sharpness of mint state, but there is a minor scratch near the date and some hidden mark on top of the central reverse lettering. Nice color and appearance overall. Estimated Value $125 - 175. View details	Realized $276
Lot 1172		1857 Flying Eagle Cent. VF-30. Natural color and surfaces. Estimated Value $30 - 40. From "Granddad" probably from circulation a hundred or more years ago. View details	Realized $46
Lot 1173		1858. Pattern Flying Eagle Cent. J-191, P-234, Rarity-7. Plain edge. . J-191. PCGS graded Proof 63. Struck on a slightly rough planchet, and now toned a sunset gold color. Sharply impressed by the dies, and one of the rarer combinations made in 1858. There is a small low spot above the 58 in the date, and another on the E of ONE on the reverse. The mirror fields are hazy in appearance. Probably more of a rarity-6 today with 22 graded by PCGS, this at the low end of those reported in the population report. Estimated Value $1,250 - 1,500. View details and enlarged photos	Realized $1,265
Lot 1174		1858. Pattern Flying Eagle Cent. J-193, P-236, Rarity-5. Plain edge. . J-193. Proof 63. Struck on regular issue planchets, this with the regular issue 1858 flying eagle cent obverse, paired with a reverse that features and oak wreath with an ornate shield above. An olive sprig and three arrows are tied in at the base of the wreath. Toned a pinkish blue at the centers, and the fields show minor hairlines from a past cleaning. Certainly one of the more interesting designs proposed that year. Estimated Value $1,000 - 1,250. View details and enlarged photos	Realized $1,035
Lot 1175		1858. Pattern Flying Eagle Cent. J-204, P-248, Rarity-5. Plain edge. . J-204. Proof 63. This is lovely example of the popular "skinny eagle" thought to have been designed by Anthony Paquet. This has been deduced by Rogers Fred, Jr., who notes that the lettering is thin, and placed in a more condensed fashion, and the eagle is awkward and too skinny, similar to eagles seen on other Paquet medals. This one also is paired with the oak wreath reverse, and ornate shield above. Some hairlines but well struck and preserved otherwise. Estimated Value $900 - 1,100. View details and enlarged photos	Realized $1,323
Lot 1176		1858 Flying Eagle Cent. Large letters. PCGS graded MS-65. This is obviously a very high end coin for the grade, the obverse is simply stunning with blazing luster and near perfect surfaces. Similar on the reverse, with just the lightest haze and scattered specks to note the passage of time. Rare even in the grade assigned, making this coin a true opportunity for the date specialist. Boldly struck on all but a small area inside the eagle's left wing and unimprovable quality for the issue. Estimated Value $3,000 - 3,500. From the Howard R. Newcomb collection of Indian Cents, purchased June 30, 1944 from J.G. Macallister. View details and enlarged photos	Realized $4,830
Lot 1177		1858 Flying Eagle Cent. Large letters. PCGS graded MS-64. Fresh and original for this issue, the luster is well preserved in the field and there are no problem marks or spots. One minor low area near the E of ONE. Popular and short lived as a type coin. Estimated Value $850 - 950. View details	Unsold
Lot 1178		1858 Flying Eagle Cent. Large letters. NGC graded MS-64. This is the scarce doubled die obverse (FS# 1¢ 005.5). Not listed in Breen. The doubling is most apparent on AMERICA. Rare and desirable as such, even beyond the normal type coin price. Flashy luster and well struck, with just a hint of toning. Estimated Value $750 - 850. View details	Realized $1,035
Lot 1179		1858 Flying Eagle Cent. Large letters. SEGS graded MS-64. A few minor specks of toning but with faded mint color on both sides. Sharply impressed by the dies and only a few minor signs of handling. Estimated Value $450 - 500. View details	Realized $805
Lot 1180		1858 Flying Eagle Cent. Large letters. MS-63. This coin boasts bright flashy luster, and delicate toning around the periphery. However, examination will note that it has probably been lightly cleaned, and there is a series of faint hairlines under the eagle and a couple of minor rim ticks on the reverse. Estimated Value $400 - 500. View details and enlarged photos	Realized $575
Lot 1181		1858 Flying Eagle Cent. Large letters. MS-60 Plus. This one has a doubled date, it may be strike doubling or possibly in the die. Frosty luster and well struck, with clean surfaces that show few handling marks, just light hairlines. Always popular. There is a die crack through the last three digits at the top, and the doubling is obvious to the left of each digit in the date. Estimated Value $700 - 800. View details	Realized $776
Lot 1182		1858 Flying Eagle Cent. Small letters. PCGS graded MS-64. A sparkling near-gem that boasts delicate pinkish toning and abundant luster. Free of spots or other detriments, and impressive in every way. Estimated Value $800 - 1,000. From the Howard R. Newcomb collection of Indian Cents, purchased June 30, 1944 from J.G. Macallister. View details and enlarged photos	Realized $1,208
Lot 1183		1858/7 Flying Eagle Cent. NGC graded MS-62. A scarce overdate which seldom found in mint state. NGC has only graded 6 this high, with 34 graded higher. The overdate is very difficult to see. This coin has a small dark streak up from just behind the eagle's eye into the field above, and a minor bumpy scratch through C of CENT below E. Weakly struck on the right side through the eagle's tail and RICA, and corresponding section of the reverse. Estimated Value $2,700 - 3,200. View details	Unsold
Lot 1184		1857 Flying Eagle Cent. A group of Copper nickel cents, most have been whizzed to simulate a higher grade, so inspection is mandatory. Grades range from Extremely Fine to About Uncirculated, but should net lower due to the whizzing. Lot of 7 coins. Estimated Value $250 - 350. View details	Realized $529
Lot 1185		1857 Flying Eagle Cent. An interesting group of small cents. Grades range from Good to Very Good, and most have been cleaned. Lot of 12 coins. Estimated Value $100 - 125. View details	Realized $127