Category Archives: Flying Eagle Cents

1857 Flying Eagle Cent “Varieties” – Jack Young’s Fun With Fakes

By Jack D. Young, Early American Coppers (EAC), and the Dark Side Group ……
A new installment of my CoinWeek exclusive series documents three different counterfeit  1857 Flying Eagle cents, all with their own unique telling markers. I’ll start with this example that a friend posted to the Dark Side Group. He asked members which one they liked better:

Above: Counterfeit 1857 Flying Eagle cent. Below: Genuine 1857 Flying Eagle cent.
Above: Counterfeit 1857 Flying Eagle cent. Below: Genuine 1857 Flying Eagle cent.

After review, the best answer in my opinion was “the not counterfeit one”!

One of the best “tells” for this variety of fake is the reverse “chip” as circled in red:

Counterfeit 1857 Flying Eagle cent.
Counterfeit 1857 Flying Eagle cent.

This particular type has been around for a while, as evidenced by this 2017 “Bay” sale and an article by NGC that documented it.

Counterfeit 1857 Flying Eagle cents.

To read that article on counterfeit 1857 Flying Eagle cents, click here

NGC Screenshot of an 1857 Flying Eagle cent counterfeit diagnostics article.
Image: NGC.

But the research doesn’t stop, as there are others also in the marketplace currently. The following examples have an apparently shared reverse; I nicknamed them the “Notched T” counterfeits.

I sent a note to Flying Eagle and Indian Head cent expert Richard Snow and received the following information about the “T”: “it’s a defect in the transfer process” (for making the false dies).

Defect found on the reverse of a family of counterfeit 1857 Flying Eagle cents.
Defect found on the reverse of a family of counterfeit 1857 Flying Eagle cents.

And an example submitted and returned body-bagged by NGC:

NGC body bagged this counterfeit 1857 Flying Eagle cent.
NGC body bagged this counterfeit 1857 Flying Eagle cent.

Continuing down the proverbial rabbit hole leads to the latest fake of the family, one I nicknamed the “Bad T” (of UNITED).

Counterfeit 1857 Flying Eagle cent listed on eBay.
Counterfeit 1857 Flying Eagle cent listed on eBay.

A fairly decent looking example until you examine it more closely; there are lots of depressions and surface irregularities, as well as the odd “T”:

Left: counterfeit 1857 Flying Eagle cent. Right: genuine 1857 Flying Eagle cent.
Left: counterfeit 1857 Flying Eagle cent. Right: genuine 1857 Flying Eagle cent.

Didn’t take much looking to find others after this one was reported!

Here’s an example from Ecrater.com:

Counterfeit 1857 Flying Eagle cent listing on ecrater.
Image: ecrater.

This counterfeit matches the eBay listed one exactly.

Pick up points from this family of Counterfeit 1857 Flying Eagle cents.
Pick up points from this family of Counterfeit 1857 Flying Eagle cents.

And another “Bay” example, this one showing some of the attribution marks even better:

Counterfeit 1857 Flying Eagle cent listed on eBay.
Counterfeit 1857 Flying Eagle cent listed on eBay. Image: eBay
A counterfeit and a marked copy 1857 Flying Eagle cent share obvious markers.
A counterfeit and a marked copy 1857 Flying Eagle cent share obvious markers.

And let’s not leave Etsy out! More fun there with an 1856 and an 1858 thrown in for good measure!

Three counterfeit 1857 Flying Eagle cents listed on Etsy.com.
Three counterfeit 1857 Flying Eagle cents listed on Etsy.com.

And one major “twist”: this “PCGS” certed 1856 example:

Counterfeit 1856 Flying Eagle cent in fake PCGS slab.
Counterfeit 1856 Flying Eagle cent in fake PCGS slab.

Poor images of this one won’t allow positive attribution by type, but the “6” is a pretty clear sign that it’s really bad…

Again, hopefully the information in this article information will help reduce the opportunity for fraudsters to sting collectors with these fakes, as it continues to be a real jungle out there!

Best as always,

Jack


 

MORE Articles on Counterfeit Coins by Jack D. Young

 

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Stewart Blay Collections of Flying Eagle Cents, Indian Cents, Barber Dimes Realize Almost $5 Million

Incredible cents from the Stewart Blay Collection. Image: GreatCollections.
Incredible cents from the Stewart Blay Collection. Image: GreatCollections.

1856 & 1877 Pennies Sold for Over $300,000 Each; Countless Records Set

(Irvine, California) November 28, 2023 – The Stewart Blay Collection continued to set records at GreatCollections earlier this month, with almost $5 million in final bids for the finest sets of Flying Eagle Cents, Indian Cents and Barber Dimes ever assembled.

The coins were sold at GreatCollections on November 12th and 19th. Highlight realizations include the 1856 Flying Eagle Cent PCGS MS-66 CAC at $343,125, the 1877 Indian Cent PCGS MS-66+ RD CAC at $340,875 and the 1893-O Barber Dime PCGS MS-68 PL CAC at $140,625. A duplicate 1955 Doubled Die Lincoln Cent PCGS MS-65 RD CAC realized $123,750. These all realized all-time world records for the date and grade. The 1955 Doubled Die graded PCGS MS-65 RD more than doubled the previous record set in 2001.

A total of 16,645 bids were received for the 673 certified coins on offer that realized a total of $4,960,436.

Stewart Blay, a legendary numismatist and sculptor based in New York, assembled the award-winning collections over the past 50 years. Earlier this year, GreatCollections auctioned the Blay Lincoln Cent Collection for over $7.7 million, also setting many world records.

“Serious collectors came out of the woodwork to bid and own part of the Stewart Blay Collection – several had not acquired a coin in years, as nothing of this quality had been on the market. The realized prices confirm the numismatic community agreed with the superlative quality Stewart had assembled over his lifetime. The pedigree is one that will survive time – perhaps the most universally respected in the current generation of numismatists,” said Ian Russell, president of GreatCollections.

Ian continued, “Sadly, Stewart passed away unexpectedly last Thanksgiving. We are so thankful to Stewart and his estate for entrusting us with this once-in-a-generation collection.”

Prices realized highlights from the Stewart Blay Collection of Flying Eagle Cents

  • 1856 Flying Eagle Cent PCGS MS-66 CAC – $343,125
  • 1858 Flying Eagle Cent Small Letters PCGS MS-66 CAC – $59,062

Prices realized highlights from the Stewart Blay Collection of Indian Cents

  • 1864 Indian Cent L on Ribbon PCGS MS-66+ RD CAC – $81,225
  • 1868 Indian Cent PCGS MS-66+ RD CAC – $78,925
  • 1877 Indian Cent PCGS MS-66+ RD CAC – $340,875
  • 1884 Indian Cent PCGS MS-67 RD CAC – $81,562

Prices realized highlights from the Stewart Blay Collection of Barber Dimes

  • 1893-O Barber Dime PCGS MS-68 PL CAC – $140,875
  • 1907 Barber Dime PCGS Proof-68 CAC – $87,187
  • 1911 Barber Dime PCGS MS-68+ CAC – $81,562A permanent record of the Stewart Blay Collection is available on the GreatCollections website at www.greatcollections.com/blay and GreatCollections has plans to publish a book featuring the Blay collections. For more information, please contact GreatCollections at 1-800-442-6467 or visit www.greatcollections.com.

About GreatCollections

GreatCollections, the official auction house of the American Numismatic Association, specializes in auctioning certified coins and banknotes, handling transactions from start to finish. Since its founding in 2010, GreatCollections has successfully auctioned over 1 million certified coins, making it one of the leading certified coin companies in the United States with annual sales in 2022 exceeding $270 million. Ian Russell, owner/president of GreatCollections, is a member of the prestigious Professional Numismatists Guild, member of the National Auctioneers Association and was recently named the ANA Harry J. Forman Dealer of the Year. For more information about GreatCollections, visit www.greatcollections.com or call 800-442-6467.

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Stewart Blay Indian Head, Flying Eagle Cent Collection to Be Auctioned by GreatCollections

Sale also to feature Blay Collection of Barber Dimes   When GreatCollections sold the Stewart Blay Collection of Lincoln Cents in January 2023, one of if not the finest collection of Lincoln cents ever assembled, several record prices were established for a total of over $7.7 million. Now, GreatCollections will be offering the Blay collections […]

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Boulder City Collection of Classic US Cents in Heritage Showcase Auction

Heritage Auctions is proud to present, in a current Showcase sale, the Boulder City Collection. Built around an outstanding set of Flying Eagle and Indian Cents, including both circulation strikes and proofs as well as a number of collectible varieties, this collection also boasts a wide variety of other outstanding coinage, highlighted by a 1895 […]

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The Most Valuable US Pennies: A Baker’s Dozen

By Bullion Shark LLC …… While each series of United States cent (or penny) has its own key coins based on mintages and the number of surviving coins, the most valuable pennies ever sold is a different group of coins that takes into account other factors like market conditions, demand, and the coin’s role in […]

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Replacing the Large Cent With the Small Cent: A New Era

By Joshua McMorrow-Hernandez for PCGS …… The United States one-cent coin was, along with the half cent, among the first denominations ever coined by the United States Mint for mass distribution and circulation in 1793. The nation’s early one-cent coins are much larger in diameter than those produced since those of the current size and […]

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Classic US Coins – Redesigning Currency with the Flying Eagle Cent

The Flying Eagle Cent By Blanchard and Company, Inc ….. It was the 1850s and the United States Mint had a problem. The “large cent”, which was simply a penny, was becoming too expensive to manufacture. The coin was nearly the size of a half dollar and consisted entirely of copper. They needed an alternative. […]

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Counterfeit Coin Detection – Altered Date 1856 Flying Eagle Cent

Genuine 1856 Flying Eagle Cent The Flying Eagle Cent By Max Spiegel – Numismatic Guaranty Corporation ….. NGC graders find an altered-date 1856 Flying Eagle cent and explain what to avoid. The 1856 Flying Eagle cent is an important and highly collectible issue because of its status as the first Small Cent. Large Cents, which […]

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CoinWeek IQ: Collecting Flying Eagle Cents

By Lianna Spurrier for CoinWeek ….. Flying eagle cents offer a unique opportunity to collectors. Many early coins, such as large cents, have been extensively studied and are commonly collected by die pairing and variety. Most of these populations have been well picked over, and the series contains so many different coins that getting started […]

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CoinWeek IQ: Collecting Flying Eagle Cents

By Lianna Spurrier for CoinWeek …..   Flying eagle cents offer a unique opportunity to collectors. Many early coins, such as large cents, have been extensively studied and are commonly collected by die pairing and variety. Most of these populations have been well picked over, and the series contains so many different coins that getting […]

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How the Flying Eagle Cent Reinvented the Coin

By Blanchard & Company ……   For more than 60 years, the United States minted the large cent. These coins, about the size of a half dollar, consisted of nearly pure copper. They were heavy, cumbersome and falling out of favor for commerce. By the early 1850s the time had come to issue something more […]

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World-Class Collection of Flying Eagle and Indian Cents Available From Harlan J. Berk

By Harlan J. Berk, Ltd …… The Images Collection is an exceptionally fine assemblage of Mint State Flying Eagle and Indian cents built over an eight-year period, with 61 of the 62 coins purchased prior to August of 2002. The collector had a remarkably good eye for color and quality, and it shows throughout. The […]

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David Lawrence Rare Coins Highlights Flying Eagle Cents in Latest Internet Auction

Highlight is an 1856 Flying Eagle Cents PCGS/CAC Proof 65 (Eagle Eye Photo Seal). By David Lawrence Rare Coins …… Our Sunday Internet Auction #998 offers a fantastic selection 400 New Items along with 50 No Reserve lots and 30 Vault Values. All lots will begin closing at 8pm EST on Sunday, February 4. Some […]

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10 Great Moments That Shaped American Coin Collecting, Part 1

By David Thomason Alexander for CoinWeek ….. Selecting with absolute precision 10 of the greatest moments in the history of coin collecting in the United States is a daunting task. Numismatics has enjoyed more than 160 years of growth in the U.S. since its murky beginnings in the early 19th century. Its rollicking career has […]

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Legend Rare Coin Auctions Regency XXII Sale: Lots You Need to Know

By CoinWeek ….. Handpicked high-eye-appeal U.S. coins are the hallmark of Legend Rare Coin Auctions (LRCA) and on Thursday, July 13, 2017 at the Venetian Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas, the New Jersey-based firm will offer 515 PCGS- and NGC-certified coins at their Regency XXII Sale. Many are either conditionally rare or rare in […]

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Legend Rare Coin Auctions June Premier Sale: Lots You Need to Know

By CoinWeek ….. Legend Rare Coin Auctions (LRCA) is offering up 178 lots of high-eye-appeal coins for bid in their June Premier Sale. Bidding ends on Thursday, June 15 at about 10PM EST. This is a Soft Close auction, where bidding is extended by another two minutes if a bid is placed on the lot […]

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Kagin’s Auction Session 1 Highlights

By CoinWeek ….. If you don’t already know (and how would you not?), Chicago-based auction house Kagin’s, Inc. is returning as the official auctioneer of the American Numismatic Association’s (ANA) National Money Show in Orlando, Florida. The show is open Thursday through Saturday, March 9-11, and the Kagin’s Official ANA Auction will be conducted in […]

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Whitman Publishing Releases Updated Guide to Flying Eagle and Indian Head Cents

(Atlanta, Georgia)—Whitman Publishing announces the release of the expanded and updated third edition of A Guide Book of Flying Eagle and Indian Head Cents, by Richard Snow. The 304-page book will debut in September 2016, with a limited number of advance copies available at the Whitman Publishing booth at the American Numismatic Association World’s Fair of Money in Anaheim, August 10–13

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Overgrading and How It Affects Coin Values

By Rick Snow – Owner and Operator, Eagle Eye Rare Coins …… I have written about the problem of overgrading for many years now. In 1996, I began a service called Photo Seal. In small ways it has helped control the problem within the Flying Eagle and Indian cent collector community, but we are now […]

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Classic U.S. Coins for less than $500 each, part 12: Copper-Nickel Indian Cents

Coin Rarities & Related Topics: News and Analysis regarding scarce coins, coin markets, and the coin collecting community, #261  A Weekly CoinWeek Column by Greg Reynolds… From 1793 to 1857, one cent coins were about the size of quarters. During the 1850s,‘ups and downs’ in markets for copper, as a metal, and a growing dislike […]

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