Lot 1112
1856 NGC graded Proof Details. Environmental damage. Only 1,500 minted. Pleasing tan surfaces with slight iridescence. We note a carbon spot on the reverse on the E in CENT. Well worth our conservative estimate.
Mint designer-engraver James Barton Longacre reworked Gobrecht's famous flying eagle of 1836-9 and placed it on the obverse of America's first Small Cents. These were first given the name "white cents" by the public and must have been strikingly brilliant and silvery when new compared to the old red Large Cents then being withdrawn. For the reverse Longacre adapted his first wreath of cereals design first used on Gold Dollars and Three-dollar Gold pieces but differing from the wreath used on half dimes and dimes of the period. Together, these borrowings combine to give us one of our nation's most attractive coin designs. It is unfortunate the Flying Eagle had to be retired so soon. Unfortunate, that is, for lovers of artistic coinage; but fortunate for today's avid coin buyers (PCGS # 2037) .
Estimated Value $6,000 - 7,000.
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| Realized $9,200 |
