Lot 1499
1856 Flying Eagle Cent. NGC graded Proof 65. Medium gold with sparkling reddish accents in the sheltered areas. A boldly made gem with all of the design features crisp and detailed, including the eagle's tail feathers and the tiny details in the reverse agricultural wreath, the eagle's neck feathers and wings, and especially noteworthy, the area around the eagle's head. From the evidence we see, the present gem is among the two dozen finest Proofs of the date certified by NGC. Proof or Mint State? Though reportedly produced in Proof and circulation strike format, 1856 Flying Eagle cents seldom are that easy to differentiate when attributing. Indeed, over the course of several years in the late 1850s, some 1,500 to 2,000 (or more) examples of the date were secretly made and distributed to supporters of the new small-sized cent as well as to friends and customers of the Mint. Even the so-called Proofs are seldom found with deep reflectivity in the fields, so one's guess is as good as another's where actual production is concerned. Just the same, one thing is always constant with 1856 Flying Eagles: they always draw a lot of attention and seldom change hands without a stretch of heavy bidding. We know more than one connoisseur will be interested in the final outcome of this lot (PCGS # 2037) .
The handsome Longacre first "cereal wreath" which is used on the flying eagle cents, the gold dollars (type 2 and 3) as well as the $3 gold pieces, is comprised of corn, wheat, cotton and tobacco. His second wreath, used on numerous pattern coins as well as the half dimes and dimes during his tenure in office, is comprised of cotton, tobacco, sugar cane, corn, wheat and oak leaves. This is the first design of a cereal wreath created by the Mint's chief engraver, 1844-69.
Estimated Value $20,000 - 24,000.
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| Realized $26,450 |
