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.
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