1857 Flying Eagle...What's wrong here?

If got this beautiful 1857 flying eagle AU 50 DETAILS by ANACS, cleaned. Upon further observation I can't figure what's going on with the F in OF AMERICA on the Obverse. Also, how did ANACS not catch it. Whatever IT is. And what is IT?

 

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You're right. The "F" is messed up. I can only guess that ANACS decided that the "F" is a result of a damaged die during minting and not post-mint damage. And I guess the person who submitted the coin didn't ask them to address the error so they did not mention it on the slab.

 

So is the rim. Looks kinda mangled.

Almost look like several cuds, but I've not seen so many like that.

 

Very odd coin....did you see it properly before you bought it ?

 

I bought it on ebay slabbed by ANACS.

 

Which probably means you couldn't really see it. Ebay sellers are notorious for poor photos and omitting facts that adversely affect a coins appearance. My question would be does that error increase or decrease the overall appeal and value of that coin. I don't really collect error coins but I know a lot of people on here do. What do you think folks? Does that error make the coin more rare and collectible?

 

I can't tell what's going on with the F, but it looks like there's a raised area after the D that resembles a dot. Also it looks like the lower portion of the first S in states is filled.

Lou

 

So are we sure it is authentic?

ruben

 

What do the specialist books say ? For that matter, who is the authority - a la Breen, Bolender, VAM, etc - on Flying Eagle cents ?

That's a really conspicuous feature. If is mint-made (i.e. die variety), surely it's in the literature, and might bring a premium. My guess is it's after-mint damage.

 

This is my similar coin, without the error.
http://www2.mrbrklyn.com/flying_eagle.html
Ruben

 

I would say that it is a late die state, with a broken die and possibly a crumbling rim.

 

I was thinking thatthey may have made a mistake.
what do I know. I look at it compared to mine and it looks different.

Ruben

 

It appears the authoritative work on Flying Eagle cents is by Rick Snow :

"The Official Red Book: a Guide Book of Indian And Flying Eagle Cents"

$14 on Amazon :

http://www.amazon.com/Official-Red-Book-Indian-Flying/dp/0794817831/ref=sr_1_1/103-4729434-8655039?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1183854273&sr=8-1

This might clear up the confusion. Or add to it... you might have a "discovery coin".

 

I'll buy the Rick Snow book as he's the authority on Flying Eagles & Indian Head cents. What the hey, I could only learn something.

 

We all can, I try to buy any and all new references.
Snow seems to be pretty good.

 

1857 FE Report

I've contacted the members of the Fly-In club and asked for their opinions, as I did here. There's a definite die problem here. When Rick Snow viewed my photos he stated: it may be a Snow-16 or a Snow 14. That's all well and good, but I couldn't properly check that out while it's slabbed. Anyway another advisor said something different. Well. between all that advice I still don't know exactly what I've got here.

These are the original photos I've submitted. I'll try to get some better ones to you.