1856 FE - Business Strike, Proof or Both?

I'm getting mixed information and my Snow's Guide is packed away for the move.

Does the 1856 Flying Eagle cent exist as both a business strike and a proof?

 

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Yes

 

Business strikes 500-600 and proofs 1500 mintage according to pcgs.

 

There are folks that will argue both ways but I feel that most agree that they made both. The 56 was a pattern coin. Rick shows both in his book.

 

they get expensive. if I remember correctly 1 of our own CT members has a beautiful example of 1. forgot what the members names is. I think he had Barny Fife's picture off the Andy Griffith show for his avatar. ???

 

Matt @ lost Dutchman had a beauty I think they came both ways they did a bunch of experimental circ strikes as well as proofs there's quite a few in xf- au

 

I remember now who it was: CoinHawkeye 's FE on this thread: https://www.cointalk.com/threads/who-has-an-actual-1856-flying-eagle-cent.242711/

 

Thanks, people.
I'm considering buying one but since I stick to business strikes I just wanted to make sure.

 

They do come both ways. Some varieties are business strike only and some are proof only. I'm not sure how NGC categorizes them but PCGS received so many complaints for calling business strike only varieties as proofs, and proof only varieties as business strike that they threw in the towel and they now call all 1856 FE cents proofs whether they are business strike or proofs.