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Lot 1650
1856 Pattern Cent. Copper, plain edge. Judd-179. Pollock-207. NGC graded Proof 65 Red & Brown. Nice old time toning and Gem quality surfaces, with bold, razor-sharp detail. Gorgeous pinkish-red and lilac-toned surfaces on both sides are pristine and distraction-free. An arcing small mark is noted in the area where the date would normally appear. A similar curving mark appears on the reverse near the rim at 12 o'clock, running through the right wreath tip -- definite pedigree markers for this remarkable and rare coin.
The design pairs the regular Flying Eagle cent motif of 1856-58 on the obverse with the first of Longacre’s two Agricultural Wreath reverses. Intriguingly, there is no date, nor are there other legends, save for the denomination ONE CENT in the center reverse. Struck in copper with a plain edge.
Pollock observes that the eagle is a "direct copy of the eagle featured on the Gobrecht dollars dated 1836 to 1839." This pattern could just as easily be called a "Gobrecht cent," crediting the obverse's original designer, Christian Gobrecht, rather than merely describing the design. Examples were struck in both copper and copper-nickel, with the latter somewhat rarer -- but both are rare. The dated Judd-180 is the R.1 1856 Flying Eagle Cent pattern, a high-mintage production (for a Pattern, at least) that is collected alongside the regular-issue series. Uspatterns.com reports more than a dozen are known of this copper undated variety.
Pop 1; none finer at NGC. The only Proof Red & Brown example graded by NGC for the variety.
Information from the Judd reference: "During this year Congress was considering the bill which became the Act of February 21, 1857. This authorized cents weighing 72 grains to be struck from an alloy of 88% copper and 12% nickel. These were intended for the redemption of the large cents and the fractional parts of the Spanish and Mexican dollars, which had been passing freely throughout the country for a long time.
"During this period the Melter and Refiner, Booth, had continued the experiments, trying to find a better alloy for the cent, under instructions from the Director of the Mint, J. R. Snowden. On July 11, 1856, Mr. Snowden reported to the Secretary of the Treasury, James Guthrie, that recent experiments had shown an alloy of 88% copper and 12% nickel to be far superior to bronze. 'I have accordingly caused some specimens to be struck, fifty pieces of which I send you by Mr. Colmisnil, an agent of the Department. To prevent expense & delay we have used the half-cent dies. The specimens will show that the mixture receives a good impression from the dies, and exhibits its color and general appearance.' Mr. Snowden then proposed that cents be authorized in this alloy with a standard weight of 72 grains, maximum deviation 3 grains."
…
"After the dies for the flying eagle cent were prepared Mr. Snowden wrote to Mr. Guthrie on Dec. 4, 1856 as follows: 'Sir, I have caused a few hundred specimens of the proposed new cent to be struck. It would probably aid us in our efforts to deliver the Country from the present large and unsightly coin if a specimen were furnished to each member of Congress. If you concur in this suggestion I will deliver the department from the trouble of distributing them and send them to the Members of Congress, or transmit them to you for distribution if you prefer that course.'"
"According to other letters in the Archives two specimens had been sent to Mr. Guthrie, four to President Pierce, and 200 to Representative S. D. Campbell on Feb. 2, 1857, and Mr. Snowden enclosed 100 more specimens in a letter to Mr. Guthrie on Feb. 4, 1857.
"It is presumed that every Congressman, Senator, and member of the Treasury Department got one or more specimens.".
Estimated Value $28,000 - 30,000.
Ex Lemus Collection.
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