WoW. 1857 Flying Eagle. Possible proof? Grade?

Edited for content:

There is no way the toning is natural (99.9% sure), and there is no way this coin would come back from NGC or PCGS in a problem-free holder. Plain and simple.

 

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When a coin is struck, the pits that were in the planchet would most likely be flattened by the force of the strike. Not saying it would take all out and make it perfect, but it would not be as rough as it looks today.

My vote is a details coin, if found authentic, but I do not feel qualified to make a proof vs. business strike desgination with all the abuse this coin has endured.

 

Well, I removed it, but now your quote of it makes my changes somewhat useless. how about you edit your message and remove my quote?

 

Not only that, but if the planchet was pitted, the pits would be sticking out, not incuse.

 

ALSO.

Take a good look at the ONE CENT part of the reverse. As you can see the fields vary in glossiness. That right there tells me it has been polished, besides the pits in the fields. I can see the swirls in the fields from the buffer wheel. Any poorly buffed metal will look exactly like that.

 

As a collector of early proofs, I can say with a very high degree of certainty that it is a business strike. But most proof flying eagles do have the traditional cameo appearance.

As for all of the other things, I guess that we will have to agree to disagree.

 

Yes, you are entitled to your opinion, even if it is contradicted by all common sense.

 

I wonder why it was raw ? Interesting to see the grade.

 

Some valid arguments from both sides. Aside from the luster, I can't offer any insight on it since I have only have 3 circulated FE's in my collection.

So, we will see how it shakes out. I won't get my hopes up.

As far as the color, I am leaning to natural. But not by much.

-greg

 

The mint almost always prepared dies like proof dies in this time period, it is the reason that so many early coins have existing proof like examples. The problem is that the dies did not hold up very well, so the proof like look would quickly fade. First the cameo, then the mirrored fields. A perfect example of this is the Morgan dollars. As far as my hypothesis of a flawed planchet, the flaws would not be completely removed by a business strike. Ike dollars are a good example of this problem, the mint had similar issues when the tried producing large clad coins. They were unable to strike the coins with the force necessary to completely remove all of the flaws in the planchet.

 

My first response is it is either polished, coated, or flat out fake.

I would have expected a proof to have more square rims and a better strike.

But it just doesn't look "right" to my eye.

Here's hoping I'm wrong, and I am anything but an expert in this series.

 

PS -- Greg, not that I want to cause more grief, but the dealer you bought this coin from is not very well respected. I would never buy anything raw from him. I see that the coin has a 14 day return policy from the date received. If it were me, I'd be sending this baby back tomorrow for a full refund.

 

I don't know this coin well enough to comment too much. It looks beautiful but the color is suspicious (IMO).

I question why it's raw when it could be in a gem holder if legit.

 

Noted. I was starting to think the same thing. I think I'll swing by the B&M just to verify before I send it back.

 

I hope I am wrong , I do like how it looks but,In my opinion this coin is a HIGH grade AU that has been wiped & toned unnatrually .

It does look very nice & for that IMO it still has a great amount of value but I do not think it would grade & if sent in it would come back AU details with questionable color.

 

I agree

 

Sorry to say but I'm in the Details category, whether it is from a light polishing that I think I am seeing to the questionable color.

Even if I am right that still is a GREAT Coin.
I sometimes think we put up too much thought in getting our coins in Non Details Holder. Either way it is still the same coin and is still lovely.

 

I think it is fake. I know nothing about this coin type but I know quite a bit about forgeries.

See the comparison for yourself, especially neck feather design. 19th century workmanship is not apparent in the posters coin.

 

Although I only have two mint FE's in my collection, I have to agree with others that this coin just does not look right. I would also have to ask why this coin was not graded before it was sold.