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1856 1C PR65 PCGS. Eagle Eye Photo Seal. Ex: Heathgate. Snow-5. In Richard Snow's expert opinion, th

Currency:USD Category:Everything Else / Other Start Price:NA Estimated At:45.00 - 60.00 USD
1856 1C PR65 PCGS. Eagle Eye Photo Seal. Ex: Heathgate. Snow-5. In Richard Snow's expert opinion, th
1856 1C PR65 PCGS. Eagle Eye Photo Seal. Ex: Heathgate. Snow-5. In Richard Snow's expert opinion, this coin is one of the most visually stunning 1856 Flying Eagle Cents extant. An early die state, both sides are smooth and virtually mark-free. With an absolutely full strike and the highest level of production standards that Snow has seen on an 1856 Flying Eagle Cent, even a casual glance would suffice to convince one of this coin's proof status. To date, ten different die marriages have been confirmed for the 1856 Flying Eagle Cent. This example is struck from the Snow-5 die pair, which is detailed in Richard Snow's 2001 book The Flying Eagle and Indian Cent Attribution Guide, Vol. 1: 1856-1858. The author has seen only ten examples of this die variety, and he estimates that perhaps fewer than 35 Snow-5 Cents exist in all grades. Unlisted in chapter XV of the book Walter Breen's Encyclopedia of United States and Colonial Proof Coins: 1722-1977, this variety is a marriage between Obverse 2 and Reverse D as described by Snow. The obverse is identifiable by a die chip at the base of the U in UNITED, a feature that explains the "Pointed U" name that is often used to describe this die. The reverse is commonly encountered on 1856 Flying Eagle Cents, and it is readily distinguishable by a large raised dot under the upper left serif of the N in ONE. This is a centering dot that the engraver used to fix one end of a protractor while drawing circles on the unfinished die that would help place the wreath. The obverse of this coin shows striations in the fields that are oriented in three different directions. Each set becomes visible at certain angles as the coin rotates under the light. The reverse die has similar striations, and all known examples of the Snow-5 die marriage display these features. To the uninitiated, die striations are often confused with hairlines or pinscratches. Whereas the latter are grade-limiting problems caused by aggressive brushing or wiping after a coin has been struck, striations are die polish marks imparted at the Mint as a normal part of the production process. Transferred to the coin as raised lines, these striations are worn down by subsequent strikings until they are obliterated. They do not affect the coin's grade. There used to be considerable confusion among the grading services regarding whether they should designate 1856 Snow-5 Flying Eagle Cents as business strikes or proofs. Apparently, the presence of the aforementioned die striations was the root of the problem. The first specimen that Snow identified and described was unquestionably a proof. In the years that followed, several more coins of the Snow-5 die pair came to light. They were all exceptionally nice and may have come from the same unidentified source. PCGS has certified one 1856 Snow-5 Cent in PR64 and another (the present example) in PR65, while NGC reports a single coin at the PR65 level (10/02). Although PCGS had previously certified two examples of this die marriage as MS63 and a third as MS66, they have now made it clear that they will only grade Snow-5 as a proof.Ex: "Heathgate" Collection (Goldbergs, 2/2001), lot 1074, where it realized $29,325.From the Joseph P. Gorrell Collection. Important notice: We expect to be auctioning lots at the rate of 200-250 per hour. Sometimes eBay Premier live bid software cannot keep up with that pace, so we strongly recommend that you place a realistic proxy bid now as insurance to avoid disappointment. Also please note that all Heritage/CAA lots purchased through eBay Premier carry a 20% Buyer's Premium. Please make sure you read the Terms and Conditions.