2018-08-04 Sat

At the Summer Florida United Numismatists convention in Orlando, Heritage Auctions sold rare U.S. coins worth more than $6 million. Some of these coins were popular key-date examples while many others were lightly circulated.

The 1856 Flying Eagle cent is mostly collected in both pattern issues and regular issues. 2,000 circulation coins and the same number of Proof pattern coins of this type might have been produced as per experts. Many die pairings of this type have been listed in a book called Flying Eagle & Indian Cents by Richard Snow. Once such coin, graded Proof 45 by PCGS was offered at the auction.

Even though PCGS has attributed the coin to be a proof version, experts think it was struck in business format. One of them was struck in 1856 to present the design and smaller diameter to Washington officials. However, many of them entered circulation as well, which were preserved by collectors. The offered coin has wear on both sides and a wheat-gold toning. The tan colouration is more visible on the reverse. It was sold for $11,400 at Heritage’s Summer FUN Signature Session.

Image Courtesy: Heritage Auctions