A few upgrades and additions - for Flying Eagle and Pattern fans

Pushkin · February 26, 2005 2:21AM

The 1856 PCGS PR-62 has moved on to another collector and thanks to Andy Skrabalak (Angel Dee's) the following Flyer has replaced it.
Andy was just great in working with me on this coin. I also have to thank Laura Sperber for taking the time to look over my Flyer collection and give me some very useful hints on what to look for in possible upgrades, Andy and Laura are both great assets to the numismatic community. Andy carries one of the best inventories of Flyers and IHCs in the business.

The coin actually has some very nice green and blue peripheral toning, not the dull colors that are the result of an "old cleaning" but rather the sharp clear color seen on those beautiful monster toned proof IHCs. Sadly my picture taking skills are rather dismal, so you can't see the colors.

1856 PCGS PR-64

I was fortunate to pick up one of the very rare 1858 Large Letter proofs, this one from the Richmond Collection via First American Numismatics (Robert, the check is in the mail, really). A number of faint hairlines limit the grade, but the obverse looks cameo, while the reverse possesses somewhat darker toning. Still, with PR-64s and PR-65s going for 5 figures, this very nice NGC PR-63 is ideal for my needs, great eye appeal at an affordable price.

1858 LL PR-63 (ex. Richmond Collection)

I love this pattern. I owe it to Rick Kay, he was late in getting his eBay snipe in and I won it by accident. Rick is a great guy and I want to thank him for allowing me to own this super coin.

I've seen a number of these patterns that look nice in lustrous brown, and many that have little or no reflectivity and poor color. This one has super red brown color, great strike and luster, and overall exceptional eye appeal.

1855 NGC J-167 PR 64 RB