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1856 Flying Eagle cent. Snow-9. PR65 PCGS (CAC - Eagle Eye Photo Seal). Gem Proof (13: 3,5,5).

Currency:USD Category:Antiques / Mercantile, Trades & Factories - Safes Start Price:10,000.00 USD Estimated At:30,000.00 USD
1856 Flying Eagle cent. Snow-9. PR65 PCGS (CAC - Eagle Eye Photo Seal). Gem Proof (13: 3,5,5).
SOLD
25,000.00USD+ (4,375.00) buyer's premium + applicable fees & taxes.
This item SOLD at 2017 Mar 10 @ 09:56UTC-5 : EST/CDT
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1856 Flying Eagle cent. Snow-9. PR65 PCGS (CAC - Eagle Eye Photo Seal). Gem Proof (13: 3,5,5).
A beautiful example of the Proof version. This issue is the most often seen die pair. These were stuck to satisfy collector demand from 1858 until 1860. About 1,500 examples were stuck and sold as a Mint delicacy. By 1858 the fame of the 1856 Flying Eagle cent had escalated to the point where examples in nascent coin auctions were bringing the outstanding price of $2.00. For a cent! Imagine that. The Mint, seeing the profit potential and demand were quick to act, preparing new dies and striking off a large press run. These were likely sold for 25 cents each, as the auction prices fell to that level in 1860. The mint was making Proof coins for collectors on a regular basis by this time but a mintage of 1,500 coin really taxed the dies. Today we hardly ever see examples of the quality we expect for other coins of the era with mintages in the 50 to 200 range. The Mint likely did not sell out the issue and large number of remaining example were placed in circulation during the Civil War.

This example is one of the top examples from this die pair. The strike is full and the eye appeal is outstanding. There are very few marks to mention. There is a light golden tone near the edges. This example comes from the Tom Fore collection. That collection was formed from the top examples of 1856 Flying Eagles of every die pair in the 2000 to 2010 era. It is telling that this was the finest example from the Snow-9 die pair that he could find.

Ex: Tom and Jean Fore collection, Heritage 1/16:5242.

PCGS Coin Facts