Goldberg Coins and Collectibles

Sale 41

Pre-Long Beach Coin and Currency Auction

Small Cents

Lot	Photo	Description	Realized
Lot 786		1856 Flying Eagle Cent. NGC graded Proof 65. Boldly struck and nice flashy surfaces. Lightly toned. A rock-solid, Proof 65, tightly buttoned down grade concealing no defects. Reflective surfaces in line with the Gem quality one expects. This combines with finely textured motifs to provide nonstop eye-appeal. The obverse and reverse both are naturally toned. Unquestionably the most famous of all 19th century small cent rarities, certainly a date whose celebrity is generations old within the collecting fraternity. Scholarship has for the time being settled the argument concerning the number of 1856 flying eagle cents that were made: perhaps 1,500 to 2,500, some in 1856, and others over the course of the next few years to supply those who missed out on the first distribution. The 1856-dated pieces were made to sway congressmen and others of the need for smaller-sized cents to replace the old unwieldy large cents. In 1857 and 1858, the flying eagles were produced in large numbers for circulation, but those dated 1856 were meant for collectors and others. Above and beyond the raw number of coins made, this date has always been heralded as a rare offering in U.S. numismatics. It has been popular for longer than 150 yearsand portends the same well into the future. Attractive gem Proofs don't come along all that often in today's auction venue. We imagine that the coin offered here will be met with serious bids, and the outcome will be that appropriate to a gem quality example of this legendary rarity. Pop 27; 3 finer, 2 in 66, and 1 in 67 (PCGS # 2037) . Snow-9. The diagnostic die line on the obverse is visible from the rim through the U in UNITED down to the eagle's beak. Estimated Value $20,000 - 23,000. View details and enlarged photos Check results on similar lots	Unsold
Lot 787		1856 Flying Eagle Cent. PCGS graded Proof 65. Well struck with nice even toning. Not like some half-forgotten date from the 1880s or 1890s, this is the famous (dare we say, world-famous?) Flying Eagle cent struck in 1856. What's more, its grade is confirmed by powerfully burning luster that explodes like a fire storm on the largely brilliant surfaces of this near-perfect gem. A flicker of sunset gold highlights the uppermost areas of the obverse and in wide swaths across the reverse around the wreath, combine with comparable splashes deeper coppery shades to give it a wonderful appearance. Devices are sharp in all areas, as struck, a positive feature collectors will appreciate. Clearly, the grading service has taken this into consideration in assigning the Gem Proof 65 grade (as also appreciated by collectors). Pop 46; 5 finer, 4 in 66, 1 in 67 (PCGS # 2037) . In 1856 one master die was made for the Flying Eagle cent (today the letters are called the Style of 1856 letters and, among other attributes, have a squared center in the O in OF; A and M in AMERICA touch, but the M is slightly higher than the A). This identical master die was used to make all 1856-dated dies and, very early in 1857, to make 1857-dated dies with Style of 1856 letters. In all probability, the letter punches used to make this and other master dies were ordered from a private source outside the Mint, according to scholarly sources. Estimated Value $20,000 - 23,000. View details and enlarged photos Check results on similar lots	Unsold
Lot 788		1856 Flying Eagle Cent. PCGS graded MS-63 PQ. Carefully preserved and delicately toned. Rare in Mint State. A Premium Quality coin for the given grade. A beaming Flying Eagle cent of the first year rolling in smooth, semi-reflective luster that emits boldly beneath bright highlights. Possessed of an average to (in some ways) better-quality strike than is normally found for a Mint State strike, all of the eagle's wing and breast feathers show, although the head and tail display noticeable softness where these lie opposite to the high points of the reverse wreath. The bird on this rare cent was modeled upon a real eagle (Haliaeetus leucocephalus), a proud bird with a white tail and head who once inhabited the Mint establishment. Bald eagles still flew through the skies of Philadelphia in the early 19th century, it seems. One friendly bird began spending evening hours at the first U.S. Mint (1792-1833) on 7th Street near Arch. The locals called him Peter. Eventually, Peter began wandering around inside the industrial building complex itself! The exact years of Peter's life and tragic demise are not known, but visitors can view his stuffed remains today inside the entrance of the U.S. Mint at 5th and Arch streets in Philadelphia. Pop 43; 50 finer (PCGS # 2013) . Estimated Value $17,000 - 19,000. View details and enlarged photos Check results on similar lots	Realized $19,550
Lot 789		1856 Flying Eagle Cent. PCGS graded Proof 63. Lightly toned and well struck. Some minor flyspecks. Popular key date. Snow-9 is more frequently encountered than any other Proof variety of this issue. According to Richard Snow's research, examples of this variety are believed to have been produced from 1858 to 1860. This attractive Proof 63 possesses natural toning shades in the fields, around the devices, and within those devices. The strike is crisply detailed, while the surfaces are remarkably distraction-free since there are no handling marks. The minor flyspecks seem to account for the Proof 63 grade, but the coin appears very choice to the unaided eye (PCGS # 2037) . Estimated Value $14,000 - 15,000. View details and enlarged photos Check results on similar lots	Realized $14,375
Lot 790		1858 Flying Eagle Cent. Large letters. MS-64 Plus. Well struck and fully lustrous. Light tan with reddish-orange highlights. A boldly made Flying Eagle cent (PCGS # 2019) . Estimated Value $1,400 - 1,600. View details and enlarged photos Check results on similar lots	Unsold
Lot 791		1858 Flying Eagle Cent. Large letters. NGC graded MS-64. A nice bold strike. Deep autumnal shades of reddish tan vie for dominance with the bold devices on this handsome flying eagle cent. A remarkable coin for the conservative grade (PCGS # 2019) . Estimated Value $1,100 - 1,200. View details and enlarged photos Check results on similar lots	Unsold
Lot 792		1858 Flying Eagle Cent. Small letters. NGC graded MS-64. Nice golden toning. Pop 78; 26 finer, 21 in 65, 5 in 66 (PCGS # 2020) . Estimated Value $850 - 900. View details and enlarged photos Check results on similar lots	Realized $1,323