What is the current "sweet spot" (most "bang for the buck") if I'm in the market for a nice Flying Eagle cent for a U.S. Type Set? In other words, not looking for varieties, etc. that might drive the price up. The eagle pretty much has to have almost all of the breast feathers. Going by Greysheet values, price-wise, I'm more in the AU55-AU58 camp. Going by completed auctions at Heritage, I might be able to swing an MS61-MS62 if I got lucky. Thoughts? 10 minutes of research on HA.com: Grade,CDN, HA Completed auctions (ballpark) 55, $260, low $200's 58, $350, low $300's 61, $490, $450-$500 {low=$360 ?!} 62, $660, ~$660 {low=$528 ?}
Do you care which date or variety? I think the 1857 is a bit cheaper in most grades. When I'm looking at something like this, a graph is extremely useful. You can quickly identify where the biggest jump is, and plan accordingly: Depending on what your budget looks like, 64 is definitely the sweet spot. I would say a 62 would also be a good value.
Personal eye appeal is the most important attribute a coin can have. If other attributes are considered more important then you are accumulating or investing.
Well a 1856 is out due to the price. 1858 has large and small which bumps up the price. 1857 is the only other choice. Just over 17 million compared to 2000 1856's and 24 plus million on the 1858. It's a short lived series so you really can't go wrong. Be sure to choose a coin that fits in with the rest of your collection and is pleasing to your eye.
This. I think this one is nice. PCGS XF45 This one isn't pretty but I sure like looking at it. NGC G4 struck off center
Well, a 65 is usually nicer than a 64, sure. But what he was asking about is the "sweet spot" - the best value for grade. If you look at the graph, there is a small price jump between grades up to 64 - but then the price jump to 65 is huge. Thus, by spending just a bit more you can get up to a 64, without spending a huge amount for a small incremental grade increase to 65. This is a common tactic to try and figure out the best value purchase.
These are very beautiful coins, but the eagle has a lot of detail, and is front/center where it gets maximum wear. So high grade specimens are pricey. But worth it. You might want to start about AU
I agree. Even though there isn't a big price difference on your graph, You may find AU55-58 pieces that look a heck of a lot better than MS60-62. Take your time and look for the right coin for you.
I like lustrous coins. FE cents are not that lustrous until you get into MS-63 territory. For that reason I am out of the market.
My favorite of this series is the 1857 Snow 2 because it was minted using the 1856 dies with their distinctive lettering style. Since the 1856 was not released for circulation and is excessively expensive, the 1857 S 2 is a good example of this series. It is not generally distinguished as a variety in most certified holders so can be cherry picked relatively inexpensively.
In "rarer foreign" I'm happy with 62's as the NGC graders are sometimes clueless or deduct for mint flaws when nobody in the entire country was producing perfect spemens in 1824. With US, I've never met a 62 that I didn't hate.* The USA field is very mature so either buy a really nice AU-58 or go to a no problems grade like a "personally viewed MS-64". *I'll take that back. In the early days of slabbing (ca. 1990), I was offered a PCGS-62 1795 Flowing Hair half [which I foolishly didn't buy]. Then the grading services were very conservative with early US type and I don't recall any flaws with that 1795.
keep an eye on the bay.... I bought a 58 Large Letters MS63 in a NGC fatty for $399 buy it now. It was a coin that likely would have looked better after a trip to NCS. None the less, a 63 for under $400 is possible.
