1857 Flying Eagle Cent

PocketArt

I was the under bidder on this particular coin about 8 months ago in a local auction. There were plenty of quality offerings in that sale that occupied my attention, and burned up my cash that day. After the auction, I approached the buyer and mentioned, "If you ever decide to sell this coin; please keep me in mind."

What initially attracted my attention to this coin was not just the original condition; I noticed there was something quite interesting going on with the "F" in "OF" on the obverse.

Well, last Wednesday at the local coin club meeting the buyer approached me with the coin, and indicated it was for sale as he upgraded. I didn't bother to haggle the $200 for coin and bought it!

Here are pics, please tell me what you believe to be the grade, and what you believe to be happening with the "F" in "OF." I believe condition to be around AU-50-55 "ish." I'm thinking the "F" was re-cut perhaps, and a bit of doubling occurred on the primary "F"? IDK for certain- please let me know your thoughts. Thanks!

Insider2

Never saw this before. My guess, die chip. Same as the "M."

JBK

Interesting. Is the F the same relief off the surface as the other letters? Almost looks like they dug out whatever was there and tried again at the bottom of the hole they dig into the die.

But probably what @Insider2 said - die chipping away around the letter. There is lots of wear and tear on that die - in the letters, at the edge, etc.

But how nice it is to have the luxury of such good pics of the issue in question.

RogerB

Interesting!

PocketArt

@JBK said:
Interesting. Is the F the same relief off the surfaces as the other letters? Almost looks like they dug out whatever was there and tried again at the bottom of the howl they dig into the die.

But probably what @Insider2 said - die chipping away around the letter. There is lots of wear and tear on that die - in the letters, at the edge, etc.

But how nice it is to have the luxury of such good pics of the issue in question.

Thank you for asking as I didn't look for differences on letters for degree of relief. "F" appears slightly elevated in comparison to other letters. Yes, I do believe some sort of chipping occurred; yet, was mint modified. Actually, looks like a smaller "F" was inset on top the larger.

1Mike1

Maybe @EagleEye has seen this before.

yosclimber

It appears to be the S-22 "repaired OF".
https://indiancent.wikispaces.com/1857

Raybo

$200 well spent IMHO

Insider2

I guess Rick did not see the "Reworked" left side of the "M" or the outline near the top of the "A" that became visible when I magnified the OP's image.

A very unusual coin. First, explain how the die was made that way. Since it was not that way originally, something happened to it to cause the die to crumble and then need to be reengraved (graver line for the left stand of the "M" and "repunched F ?" into a hole (a missing portion of the original die). Calling @EagleEye

Kkathyl

Certainly one of a kind and agree it looks like die chip. Great coin. Very Happy for you.

cecropiamoth

Nice purchase for $200!

acloco

Believe the engraver, grabbed the "T" punch instead of the "F" punch.

@Insider2 said:
I guess Rick did not see the "Reworked" left side of the "M" or the outline near the top of the "A" that became visible when I magnified the OP's image.

A very unusual coin. First, explain how the die was made that way. Since it was not that way originally, something happened to it to cause the die to crumble and then need to be reengraved (graver line for the left stand of the "M" and "repunched F ?" into a hole (a missing portion of the original die). Calling @EagleEye

ricko

Looks like some die chipping and re-punching without clean up.... Cheers, RickO

CaptainBlunt

Kind of cool

Philadelphia North American May 27th, 1857
Scenes At The Mint.-The new cent is so
attractive that everybody is besieging the Mint
with sums varying from a quarter dollar to fifty
dollars, to effect an exchange for the pretty
offering of 1857. So great was the jam, that
yesterday morning it was found necessary to call
in the aid of the police to enforce the good old
barber shop rule, "first come first served."
The Director of the Mint now finds himself unable
to keep up the supply-as there are other cities
besides Philadelphia to be accommodated, and will,
therefore, suspend the further issue for a few days.
There are a large quantity already in the hands
of out citizens, and they will soon become circulated
ubiquitously. The demand for the coin in small
quantities yesterday was so lively that the
newsboys dropped their usual avocation and
"got up a corner," in selling the new cents to the
curious at the rate of three for (a) sixpence. Go-ahead juveniles,
those newsboys.

PocketArt

@yosclimber said:

It appears to be the S-22 "repaired OF".
https://indiancent.wikispaces.com/1857

That's it! Thanks yosclimber!

I wonder if the alloy of the Flying Eagle cent, containing nickel, had anything to do with creating the excessive chipping around the letters on the dies once production was brought up to scale in 1857. Would it have been a learning process with strengthening dies, heating, etc., with this particular alloy?

I believe it was the first time nickel was employed into U.S. coinage? Learning curve?