1856 FE cent vs. 1855 FE pattern cent (J-168)
RYK
Posts: 35,796 ✭✭✭✭✭
Which would you rather have, the fabled 1856 FE cent in G-4 for $4000 (Trends) or the 1855 pattern FE cent (J-168) in PF-64 for $2500 (available on well-known pattern dealer's website)?
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Total Copper Nutcase - African, British Ships, Channel Islands!!!
'Do not meddle in the affairs of dragons, for you are crunchy and taste good with ketchup'
Liberty: Parent of Science & Industry
I would be interested to hear what the pattern experts have to say on the matter.
The obvious reason why an 1856 FE cent in low grade has the same price as a scarce pattern in high grade is that the demand for the two differ. Many, many collectors who will never frequent these boards want an 1856 FE. Very few collectors want a J-168. (Indeed, there is a board member with a nickname of 56FlyingEagle. There is NOT a board member with the nickname J-168! ) I already have several patterns from that era and so I have a demand for the J-168. Others who have responded quite likely can appreciate the absolute rarity of the J-168 as compared to the 1856 FE. But, we are a small sampling. The demand for the 1856 FE is much greater than that for the J-168.
Mark
Edited to add: BTW, I believe the the J-168 in question is mine.
Specializing in 1854 and 1855 large FE patterns
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Doggedly collecting coins of the Central American Republic.
Visit the Society of US Pattern Collectors at USPatterns.com.
(Just to let you know my ebay name is 1856fe!!)LOL!
Perhaps later this century collectors will make the shift in valuation suggested in this thread. The 1867 with rays shield nickel has a mintage of roughly 2 dozen coins and is possibly upwards of a $150,000 coin in PR66 grade. The pattern 1867 with rays shield nickel struck in COPPER in my pattern nickel collection has a mintage of possibly a half dozen or so coins (4x rarer) and is still (rediculously) priced in the guides at under 1/10 the price of the regular issue coin. Same is true for the 1854/55 flying eagle patterns vs. 1856 - nothing will change overnight, but, gradually I believe these coins will gain favor.
Wondercoin
1854 Flying Eagles
Doggedly collecting coins of the Central American Republic.
Visit the Society of US Pattern Collectors at USPatterns.com.
09/07/2006