Lot 1027
1856. PCGS graded Proof 63. A popular key date. Well struck and reddish-brown. Only 2000 struck. A bold example of the most advantageous middle-range Proof grade for a collector. Its high degree of broad-spinning surface luster pulses beneath the toned highlights. Nicely struck, too, as one would expect with a carefully made Proof -- not even a hint of weakness at the usual Achilles' heel of the flying eagle cents, the ribbon bow on the reverse that ties together the twos halves of the wreath.
According to A Buyer's and Enthusiast's Guide to Flying Eagle and Indian Cents written by Q. David Bowers
"Proof coins are said to have been struck during this era by using a screw press which operated more slowly than a steam-powered press. However, it is possible that knuckle-type presses of the regular steam driven variety were employed, but at a slower speed than in the Coining Department. Production took place in the Medal Department, which was separate from the mass-production coinage facility and which was loosely supervised. No records survive of the specific quantities struck of Proof Flying Eagle cents, if indeed any records were ever kept.
"To create a Proof Flying Eagle cent, polished obverse and reverse dies compressed a cleaned and lightly polished planchet that was placed into the die and removed by hand, so as to prevent marks. It was recommended to strike each coin twice to fully bring up the sharpness of the design, but in practice many if not most seem to have been struck just once. Further, it seems likely that certain specimens made for collectors were struck on ordinary (not cleaned or lightly polished) planchets. Thus, Proofs among certain copper-nickel cents of this era cannot be as easily differentiated as can be contemporary silver and gold Proof coins." (PCGS # 2037) .
Estimated Value $12,000 - 13,000.
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