1856 Flying Eagle Cent diagnostics

[KurtS]

After reading where a collector thought they found a yet undocumented 1857/6 "overdate", I thought I'd post a few useful diagnostics on how to distinguish a genuine 1856 FE from manipulated or damaged coins. I have seen manipulated coins that copied the date well, yet the forger does not attempt to create these details. Every obverse die made for 1856 will show these details (including the 1857 "type of 1856"--but this is not an overdate). Below I have compared an 1856 FE to the large letters type used from 1857-58. Of course by now, somebody may have tooled a die that captures all these details, and one should naturally only buy a authenticated 1856.


1. For 1856, the inner shape of the O within "OF" is rectangular, particularly in the upper edge. Compare this to the more oval shape post-1856. Because this shape varies slightly between strikes, it must be confirmed by:
2. On 1856 FE cents, the middle serif of F in OF has an exaggerated lower point with concavity on the outer edge of the flare. The normal 1857 has a straight outer edge with a less pronounced lower serif.
3. The lower apex of the M in AMERICA for 1856 is thin with a bulbous end; the normal 1857 M is a point more widely centered between serifs.

[GarryN]

Thats an interesting discussion of the obverse diagnostics, Kurt. The only differentiation I have ever heard discussed at length is the noting the design of the 5 to distinguish 1856 cents from altered 1858 cents. Here is the 1858. The lower point of the vertical on the 5 points to the left of the ball. On the 1856, the vertical point is positioned at the center of the ball. I cant find a close up of the 1856 date, but you can get the general idea.

http://indiancent.wikispaces.com/1858+LL+Snow-1

http://www.indiancent.com/market/56s9p63p84.jpg


According to the 1856 page below, there were 5 dies made in 1856 that used the 1856 date. Its a wonder that all five dies used the same date punch for the 5.

http://indiancent.wikispaces.com/1856

[KurtS]

That's a good diagnostic too--the 5 is noticeably different in shape.

Of course, it's not like I have an 1856 to study these details, but I do have the 1857 that was struck from leftover 1856 dies, where two undated dies were repurposed for 1857 business strikes.

[GarryN]

Thats a good one to have too. I left the link to Rick Snow's 1856 wiki page on the other 1856 (ebay) thread. Rick said there were 6 dies that were created in 1856 and then used in 1857.

[KurtS]

I just looked over the 1856 obverse dies, and you're right--all the 5 digits used on the obverse dies differ from 1857-58. Interesting!

From discussions with Rick Snow and others on the 1857 type of 1856, from what I gather there are only 2 dies for this variety. He told me it's either the 1857/1857 or the Snow-2.

So I'm pretty glad I picked up one of these in a NGC AU55 slab for relatively cheap--It's the closest I'll probably ever own to the pattern coin.