Lot 786
1856 Flying Eagle Cent. NGC graded Proof 65. Boldly struck and nice flashy surfaces. Lightly toned. A rock-solid, Proof 65, tightly buttoned down grade concealing no defects. Reflective surfaces in line with the Gem quality one expects. This combines with finely textured motifs to provide nonstop eye-appeal. The obverse and reverse both are naturally toned. Unquestionably the most famous of all 19th century small cent rarities, certainly a date whose celebrity is generations old within the collecting fraternity. Scholarship has for the time being settled the argument concerning the number of 1856 flying eagle cents that were made: perhaps 1,500 to 2,500, some in 1856, and others over the course of the next few years to supply those who missed out on the first distribution. The 1856-dated pieces were made to sway congressmen and others of the need for smaller-sized cents to replace the old unwieldy large cents. In 1857 and 1858, the flying eagles were produced in large numbers for circulation, but those dated 1856 were meant for collectors and others. Above and beyond the raw number of coins made, this date has always been heralded as a rare offering in U.S. numismatics. It has been popular for longer than 150 yearsand portends the same well into the future. Attractive gem Proofs don't come along all that often in today's auction venue. We imagine that the coin offered here will be met with serious bids, and the outcome will be that appropriate to a gem quality example of this legendary rarity. Pop 27; 3 finer, 2 in 66, and 1 in 67 (PCGS # 2037) .
Snow-9. The diagnostic die line on the obverse is visible from the rim through the U in UNITED down to the eagle's beak.
Estimated Value $20,000 - 23,000.
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