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1857 1C MS61 NGC--Reverse Die Clashed with the Reverse 1857[1C] MS61 NGC--Reverse Die Clashed with t

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1857 1C MS61 NGC--Reverse Die Clashed with the Reverse 1857[1C] MS61 NGC--Reverse Die Clashed with t
<B>1857<1C> MS61 NGC--Reverse Die Clashed with the Reverse of a Seated Quarter Die.</B></I> Snow-8. FS-005. The reversed outline of the eagle's neck and wings from a Seated Liberty quarter is clearly visible in the area through and above ONE on the Flying Eagle cent reverse. According to research summarized in Rick Snow's <I>The Indian and Flying Eagle Cent Attribution Guide, </B></I> several 1857 coins are known with double-denomination clash die errors: a Seated Liberty quarter reverse clashed from a cent reverse; a Flying Eagle cent obverse clashed with a Seated half obverse; and a Flying Eagle cent obverse clashed with the obverse of a Coronet double eagle. Although earlier researchers theorized about a "Midnight Minter" clandestinely clashing dies (perhaps night watchman Theodore Eckfeldt), later research points to denomination changeovers and the relative position of dies in the "hammer" and "anvil" positions as the likely culprit. The Flying Eagle cent reverse was customarily used in the "hammer" die position, while the reverses of the Seated Liberty quarter, half, and the Coronet double eagle were customarily used in the "anvil" die position. When the coinage press was being changed from one denomination to another to meet the changing coinage requirements, the collar would have to be removed as well as the dies and the press cycled to adjust the die spacing. This could lead to a die from one denomination in the "hammer" position clashing with a die from another denomination in the "anvil" position. This possibility is further borne out by the die clashes being aligned right-side up, rather than rotated 180 degrees as seen on normally clashed dies. The present example is a classic demonstration of that right-side up alignment; in fact, it matches nearly perfectly the illustration in the Snow volume that overlays the reversed image of a Seated Liberty quarter over the Flying Eagle cent reverse, to show how the clash marks would appear.<BR> This coin shows a normal medium copper-gold color for a Flying Eagle cent. In addition to the prominent clash marks through ONE, clash marks from beneath the eagle's wing are visible beneath the T in CENT. There is no trace of rub on the coin, although the strike is weak around the obverse periphery. There is a light scratch in the left obverse field above the eagle's wing. This coin would be a classic acquisition for a Flying Eagle cent or error specialist attempting to assemble a complete set of all the known double-denomination clash errors. Q. David Bowers, in his 1996 book <I>Enthusiast's Guide to Flying Eagle and Indian Cents,</B></I> said concerning these varieties, "In my opinion these three different varieties are among the most interesting, most spectacular in all of the American coinage series."