This 1857 FE has several of the diagnostics of a Snow-10, but there is a couple of things that makes me suspect it might be a related one or a different die state. Here is the coin : Here is the eagle head for double beak and eye, but the doubling on the eye seems north rather than the south as in the references. Here is the date. The bottom of the 5 and the 7 does show a triple tip and the 8 also shows a definite repunching. The 1 is repunched S whereas in FINDERS it is to the N. Also, the letters show doubling of the Motto differently. Any comment or suggestions on variety? Thanks Jim
Could this possible just be machine doubling with the shelf like appearances. I am not an expert, but I can say this - that is one nice coin. I think mine is an 1858, but it the machine doubling covers most of the obverse and reverse. It was just cool in my opinion.
First of all can I ask you Jim, how do you get such grreat pictures.what are you using? Wow that is one hell of a coin the luster is simply beautiful . Jazzcoins Joe
Joe, It is a relatively inexpensive Canon PS 590IS, but the key is a B&L stereo microscope (7-30X). I have to use a 0.5x reducer to get the whole coin in view. The camera makes it easy to shoot down the eyepiece, and the Image Stabilization feature keeps me from shaking it. I bought the B&L from a coin store and had to disassemble and clean the optics. I have use that model for 30+ years and really like it. My eyes don't respond well to a loupe well Thanks for the compliment, still learning on it! jIM
Been checking my cherry pickers guide. I would now say that the seven should actually down father and the C in america should have the second C inside. So I am convinced it is machine doubling. Still a very nice looking coin.
Nice photos and thanks for the learning experience. Flying eagles are one of my favorites. And by the way that 57 is very nice!!!!!!!!!!!!!
It is a 38mm lens that screws on the bottom of body of the B&L scope body. It does force you to move the scope up to the max ( I set the scope on a hollow base to raise it more and put a large coin below the stage level. ( hope that makes sense). On ebay, I have seen them from $35 - $100+, depending on the brand, B&L cheaper than Nikon or Zeiss. On a biology forum, someone said that a camera's 38 mm filter would fit. Seems some fixed lens camera use it for wide angle, so you might check for a 0.5x wide angle lens/filter. Jim P.S. Mark, yes I consider machine doubling as a probability, my indecisiveness is that the shelf isn't as flat as most machine effect, and some areas do tend to show possible serif doubling. But.....I have put it back in it's collection until I get more time to work with it or send it out. Thanks for the research and comments, appreciate them!
