Teach me about this 1857 Flying Eagle Cent...

Hi All,

I am still learning the art of coin collecting and need some guidance please.

Here is my 1857 Flying Eagle Cent, and I am a bit unsure as to how to sell it.

1) I think it has been cleaned as I see debris in areas such as the 8 and 5 and some of the letters, but the larger, flatter surface areas are clean. Is this evidence of cleaning?

2) I seem to see these striations in the metal on both sides but especially from behind the eagles right wing to the "AME" in America. It appears, to me, that the metal was somehow stressed during the minting process. I don't know what to make of that - any thoughts?

3) I might put a grade on this of VF-30 but if its been cleaned, it won't straight grade.
Even if this was cleaned, would this be a candidate for an auction house like Great Collections anyway or perhaps a better avenue would be eBay?

4) Finally, any guess as to the value?

Many thanks for your thoughts and teaching me.

 

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I say a Fine 15. very possible it has been cleaned but really hard to tell from photos. $30 on a good day. Not a very attractive coin!!

 

My initial thoughts lead me to cleaned after environmental damage. I think $15 is a fair price on a good day.

 

Someone would like it for their Whitman.

 

AtlantaMan you aren’t half bad. You are being very fair in your assessments. Now one thing to keep in mind is that for years we did clean coins. Those that had been gently cleaned and “healed” over the years are generally deemed market acceptable and will straight grade. Those that were harshly cleaned are forever damaged goods……. At first blush I thought yours may have been harshly cleaned due to the prominence of the diagonal lines above the wing and on the reverse. But the more I look at it, I believe that may be what many would call a “woodie”… A woodie is a planchet where the alloys didn’t mix well leaving what looks like a wood grain surface. Not that unusual or anything but it does add interest to the piece.

 

Thank you @Cazador, @masterswimmer and @Randy Abercrombie ! I am trying to be really brutal with my gradings and valuations, and I appreciate the guidance.

 

Possibly some of that is tape residue.

 

I think $20 to $25 for value.

 

Probably cleaned a long time ago. Should be in the $12-$15 range.

 

I buy and sell quite a few large cents and sometimes small ones too. I know for sure you could sell this coin on FB marketplace or e-bay for more than 12 or 15 bucks. With better pics it could be more than double that.

 

I don’t do eBay. I only deal with honest, reliable dealers that I know and trust. You can sell on the bay and the buyer can file a complaint and you’re out the coin and the money.

 

fees are high on e-bay too. Prefer FB marketplace

 

what is this "selling" of coins you speak of?????

 

Bad habit I suppose! LOL