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Pillar of the Community
 United States
4421 Posts |
Thanks for the kindly responses, guys. I bought it back in 2001, paying the sellers' asking price of $75. I never doubted that it was genuine, given the honest wear and coloration. He also sold me a Pine Tree threepence, but I parted with that one some years ago. I'm not an advocate of slabbing coppers, in particular, but this is such a "rare" piece (not rare dollar-wise) that I thought it best to seek certification and secure its ID for the next owner. I feared that, if not slabbed, it might someday get tossed in with a batch of old, foreign coins! Due to the absence of detail, Larry couldn't say whether this is 167/168. I'm inclined to suggest that, given its current weight, it's the lower weight variety. There's no evidence of ED, but there sure is excessive wear. It's as evenly smooth a coin in this low grade that I've ever seen. I can't imagine that it circulated that much. I'm thus left to suspect that an old time coppers' guy carried it in his pocket for years; perhaps, as a lucky piece and/or for show and tell. I've long wondered if someday, I'll stumble across an obscure comment about an early numismatist who once carriesd such a piece in his pocket. If so, that would suggest a likelihood of provenance. Fun to ponder .... PS - I humbly acknowledge my poor photographic skills, being the equivalent of many an ebay seller.  Edited by ExoGuy
06/13/2014 7:19 pm
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Pillar of the Community
Korea, Republic Of
1881 Posts |
A classic pattern for $75? I'd take that deal any day!  |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
4421 Posts |
The collector from whom I obtained this piece shared my enthusiasm for early, pre-Civil War coins. We often exchanged coins of interest. At that time, I recall seeing a few other 1855 Flying Eagle cents in XF-AU in the $1500-$2000 range. Thus, $75 seemed a "2-fair" value (pun intended) at the time. There are ever so many more 1856 Flying Eagle cents out there. A dealer friend at a show once displayed an 1856 that he'd acquired. At the next show, I handed him the 1855 ... His expression was priceless. I've long been seeking a cheap 1854 Flying Eagle for sale ...  Edited by ExoGuy
06/13/2014 7:48 pm
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Pillar of the Community
United States
3229 Posts |
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Pillar of the Community
Canada
1747 Posts |
I am sorry can you please school me, I thought the Flying eagle was only from 1856 to 58, and the 56 there were only something like 1000 minted. was this 55 some sort of a test strike? also I am sorry but the image is blurry, is the date actually readable?
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Pillar of the Community
Korea, Republic Of
1881 Posts |
Flying Eagle cents were minted as a pattern in 1856 and they were authorized in 1857, leading to the strike of the 1857 and 1858 cents. Many pattern cents were struck in 1854 and 1855 as the Mint was experimenting with different compositions and designs, and this one is just one of the many patterns minted.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
8521 Posts |
Oregon coin geek.....*** GO BEAVS ! ! ! ***
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Pillar of the Community
United States
4421 Posts |
ace_ftw .... The date is fully readable. I apologized for my poor pics of this coin, The holder added to the haziness. I expect that the excessive wear accounts for it being around 10% underweight. Also, it's about the size of a Half Cent of that year. IMHO, this eagle isn't as elegant in design as the one on subsequent small cents. Here's a high quality pic of the design ... beauties: http://indiancent.wikispaces.com/1855 |
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Valued Member
United States
258 Posts |
That is one awesome coin! It has a lot of character for being such a low grade and to me that would make it priceless! And for $75, you can't beat that! Thanks for sharing!
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Pillar of the Community
United States
4421 Posts |
1000_Rubles ... I've long had a fondness for the unusual coins with character. At shows, I enjoy hunting for coins, tokens and paper currency that are difficult to find; ones that I've not before seen and may never see the likes of, again. The counterstamps, early tokens and uncommon die varieties. die states, etc. never cease to grab my attention and spending money. Such are the pieces that I never cease to tire of revisiting in my collection. They pose countless questions and offer glimpses into times past.
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Bedrock of the Community
United States
17884 Posts |
In the mid 1850's the price of copper had risen to the point that the cent was costing the government more than one cent apiece to make. The 1854 ad 1855 flying eagle patterns were an experiment in making a smaller copper cent. They were about the size of the current Half Cent, possibly just a little larger as they weigh about 1.5 grams more than the Half Cent and about 4 grams less than the regular cent. But they were still copper and not the coppernickel alloy used for the small size Flying Eagle cents 1856 - 58. |
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Valued Member
United States
258 Posts |
Quote:
1000_Rubles ... I've long had a fondness for the unusual coins with character. At shows, I enjoy hunting for coins, tokens and paper currency that are difficult to find; ones that I've not before seen and may never see the likes of, again. The counterstamps, early tokens and uncommon die varieties. die states, etc. never cease to grab my attention and spending money. Such are the pieces that I never cease to tire of revisiting in my collection. They pose countless questions and offer glimpses into times past. That's really awesome! It's great how passionate you are about what you collect! I'm a history buff myself so I appreciate those pieces you find that offer a look at the past. Any classic and even some modern coins for that matter do the same for me. Good luck with your collection! |
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Pillar of the Community
1028 Posts |
It's bizarre to me that a pattern piece would have circulated so much to acquire this kind of wear. Are you positive the coin is genuine? It is in an SEGS slab, and an old one at that. I's like to see this sent off to PCGS/NGC, or at least ICG/ANACS
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Pillar of the Community
United States
4421 Posts |
Hi hesgut - I strongly suspect that this was a pocket piece of sorts that once belonged to some early copper collector in the western NY area; this, from where it came. I thoroughly trust the assessment of Larry Briggs who also networks with other experts. The piece has naught but honest, heavy wear. I had shown it to some knowledgeable copper guys, prior to having it slabbed, too. Thus, I'm as assured as I can be that it's genuine. I do know that the other services you mention have made major mistakes over the years, and I personally don't see how their slabs could provide any added assurance. Larry Briggs has gone the extra mile on various pieces that I've given him. On one piece, a silver Conder token, he ran three specific gravity tests before certifying it. I doubt that the other TPG'ers would have gone to such lengths! Larry tends to take a strong, personal interest in grading and attribution, especially; this, which I admire. His coin inventory is amazing and commensurate with his knowledge. I tend to like the bizarre, unusual and uncommon pieces that test one's imagination. Such was the allure of this 1855! |
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New Member
United States
40 Posts |
Thank you for sharing that.
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Posted 06/13/2014 7:25 pm
