Flying Eagle Cents

Hey all, I was wondering if someone could post the difference between 1858 large and small letters?

thanks

 

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There is a good pic here at the bottom of the page. The key is the AM in America is nearly connected in the large letter variety and have a large gap in the small letter variety.

http://www.coinfacts.com/small_cents/flying_eagle_cents/1858_flying_eagle_cent.htm

 

ah... very good
I'll have to check mine and see if I put it in the right spot

 

Wait, there's more

In 1858 there were also 2 reverse dies used. One is the die of 1857 or "High Leaves" variety and the other is the "Low Leaves" variety. These are distinguished by the length of the leaves on the reverse that almost touch the C and T in CENT.

This is a Photo of the High Leaves Variety.

On the Low Leaves variety they look like nubs. I'll look for a photo of the Low Leaves variety and post it later.

Bruce

 

Interesting, my flying eagle cent is AG... so I dont know if I could tell. lol

 

Low Leaves Photo

Here is a Low Leaves reverse:

Bruce

 

It's hard enough to tell in a better conition coin. As for your AG it might be very difficult unless you use high magnification and your reverse is not completely worn away in the area where the CENT is.

Bruce

 

I didn't know about the rear variety, I'll have to check mine! Are both reverses found on both 1858 obverses? Let me try and clarify that...does that make 4 different 1858 coins (1858 small letters reverse of 1857, 1858 small letters reverse of 1858, 1858 large letters reverse of 1857, 1858 large letters reverse of 1858).

 

Since there are only 3 years in the Flying Eagle set, and the 1856 is very expensive you now can collect the various die varieties for an interesting niche area of the hobby.

1858 Large Letters Low Leaves, Large Letters High Leaves.

1858 Small Letters Low Leaves, Small Letters High Leaves.

Good luck,

Bruce

 

Thank goodness they didn't do that with the 1856 or it would cost a mutitude of fortunes to collect them. :mouth:

Ribbit

 

Do the same varieties exist for the 1858 proof coins? (Not that I can afford them, just curious).

 

And what about the 1858/7?

Ribbit

 

More to collect.

From Rick Snows "A Guide Book of Flying Eagle and Indian Head Cents":

"The 1858 Small Letters Proof is found with both the High Leaves (rare) and Low Leaves reverse."

There are also a number of Pattern coins struck that year. The Mint was trying to increase the die life and striking quality of the cent. They struck a cent with a small Eagle and an Indian Head on the obverse. For the reverse patterns they also struck a Plain Oak Wreath, the Oak Wreath With an Ornamental Shield, a Laurel Wreath along with the regular wreath.

The Mint produced about 150 to 200 12 piece sets of all the die combinations.

The 1858 Indian Head with the Laurel Wreath were struck in larger quantities than the others.

As to the 1858, 8 over 7 Flying Eagle (I believe) there are only the Low Leaves reverse known.

Anyone interested in collecting the Flying Eagle Cents should consider buying the Rick Snow's book before spending Big $$s on these coins. It's one of my favorite coin books and one I always go back to.:kewl:

Bruce