United States 1856 cent KM-85

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die pair S-1
die pair S-2
die pair S-3
die pair S-3 in proof

The "Flying Eagle" cent replaced the unpopular large cent in 1857 altho both types were struck that year. Large numbers were struck 1857-58 and the design was popular but mint officials didn't like its striking characteristics. In 1859, the Indian Head cent was introduced and, after a reverse modification in 1860, was used until 1909. Prototype "Flying Eagle" cents were produced in 1856 (over a thousand are known to exist, so it's hard to call them "patterns") but are today expensive.

Notes on variety S-1: "This specimen: Obv: Repunched 5. Rev: Tilted ONE CENT. This is a very rare die pair as well as the most interesting die pair of the 1856 Flying Eagles. The ONE CENT is not properly aligned within the wreath. Do you see it? Also the dies are rotated so the eagle flies onward and upward, like the original Gobrecht Dollar."

Notes on variety S-2: "This specimen: Obv: Point at the base of U in UNITED. Rev: Proof die from 1857. This is a very rare die pair."

Notes on variety S-3: "This specimen has repunching on the 5 and no center dot under the upper-left serif of the N in CENT. From die marriage analysis by Walter Breen[1] and later, Richard Snow[2], it has been proven to be the mintage struck as a pattern for distribution to Congress to influence passage of the Mint Act of February 21, 1857."

Reported Mintage: est. 2,500.

Specification: 4.67 g, copper-nickel, 19 mm diameter.

Catalog reference: KM 85.

Source:

  • Michael, Thomas, and Tracy L. Schmidt, Standard Catalog of World Coins, 1801-1900, 9th ed., Iola, WI: Krause Publications, 2019.
  • [1]Breen, Walter H., Walter Breen's Complete Encyclopedia of U. S. and Colonial Coins, New York: Doubleday, 1987.
  • Snow, Richard E., Flying Eagle and Indian Cents, Tucson, AZ: Eagle Eye Rare Coins, 1992.
  • [2]Snow, Richard E., The Flying Eagle and Indian Cent Attribution Guide, 2nd. edition. 1859-1869, Tucson, AZ: Eagle Eye Rare Coins, 2003.
  • Snow, Richard E., A Guide Book of Flying Eagle and Indian Head Cents, Atlanta, GA: Whitman Publishing, 2007.
  • Yeoman, R. S., and Kenneth Bressett (ed.), A Guide Book of United States Coins, 65th Ed., Atlanta, GA: Whitman Publishing, 2011.

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