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1856 1C MS64 PCGS. Snow-3. Die state C. This is one of

Currency:USD Category:Coins & Paper Money / US Coins Start Price:19,000.00 USD Estimated At:1.00 - 1,000,000.00 USD
1856 1C MS64 PCGS. Snow-3. Die state C. This is one of
<B>1856 1C MS64 PCGS.</B></I> Snow-3. Die State C. This is one of the more common die pairings--if <I>common</B></I> can be used to describe an 1856 Flying Eagle cent. Free of the annoying spots and specks that often mar the surfaces, and attractive with semi-prooflike fields as are often encountered on this variety. The toning ranges from light tan to streaky-brown, particularly on the reverse. Identifiable by a minute planchet flaw near the eagle's chest above the 18. The strike is sharp on eagle except on the tips of his tail, and the reverse where the wreath shows ample definition on the lower portion, but minor softness on the veins of the cotton leaves. The copper-nickel alloy to make these new smaller style cents is 88% copper and 12% nickel. The nickel alloy gave the cents a lighter tan or even slightly white color scheme, and most of the business strikes are found with minor weakness on the highpoints.<BR> These new Flying Eagle cents were cause for celebration. The older style and still current Large cents were generally hated by the public as being too large, any quantity of them was cumbersome and often difficult to carry. Seizing this opportunity, entrepreneur Joseph Wharton used his extensive political clout to secure the proper legislation that authorized a new small cent, using--and get this--nickel. Yes, nickel, the bane of mints worldwide. Philadelphia Mint experiments confirmed that nickel is truly one of the hardest, least workable and difficult metals to turn into coinage, <I>but</B></I> this fact was not important to Congress, who with their collective stroke of a pen demanded nickel be used to alloy the new smaller copper-nickel cents. Wharton, who happened to own the largest group of nickel mines in the Western Hemisphere, finally had an outlet for his otherwise metallurgical curiosity. Once a steady flow of nickel was established to the Philadelphia Mint, Wharton set his eyes on other denominations, but that is another story.