Lot 916
1856 PCGS graded PR Genuine AU Details. Cleaning. Only 1,500 minted. Key date. The government’s imminent approval of a statute to alter the amalgam of the Cent in 1856 left Mint Director Snowden pleading for a design to begin trial strikings without delay. The task of achieving a satisfactory product in this environment fell to James Barton Longacre. For the obverse, the designer selected a variant of the flying eagle that adorned the reverse of the 1836-9 Gobrecht Pattern Dollars. Although nearly two decades had passed, this eagle hadn’t faded into obscurity; it had appeared on several Patterns of 1854-5 (also by Longacre). The reverse got a copy of the wreath of corn, cotton, maple, and tobacco that already appeared on Longacre’s Dollar and $3 Gold pieces. Despite the short production run of this design, the rarity and allure of 1856 Proof strikings insured that it would remain forever a part of the collecting lore and popularity.
Collectors realized early on that these had a very low mintage. Years ago one ardent fellow cornered a group of 756 pieces! Remember, however, this was during a time when there were fewer collectors than coins. That long-ago hoard was distributed; meanwhile, the collecting fraternity blossomed like a field of springtime flowers (PCGS # 2037) .
Estimated Value $6,500 - 7,000.
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| Realized $8,813 |
