Flying Eagle Dilemma

Turborick

Turborick

Jr. Member
Nov 16, 2006
37
0
Central Missouri
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Fisher F75
Saturday I dug a coin that looked like a rough V nickel so I just put it aside to clean up later. Last night as I was cleaning it up I discovered that 1. it was not a V nickel and 2. that I did not recognize it. So I started thumbing through the red book and I was really happy when I discovered that I had dug my first Flying Eagle cent. The problem is the date of the coin, at first glance it appeared to be a 1856 but when I looked that date up it seems unlikely. It is more likely an 1858 but I look again and am still not sure. I started cleaning the coin and the date is still not clear and I am still in suspense. The coin is in very poor condition and so probably not worth much even if it is a 1856, but it would be so cool to have dug such a rare coin.

So, does anyone have any suggestions about what I should do to try to clean up the date? I am afraid to get to aggressive and ruin any chance to determine the date but I am dying to know for sure. Thanks in advance for any ideas.

Rick
 

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Hi Rick

Congrats on the Flying Eagle... a coin almost nobody ever finds.

To me... my personal opinion looking at your picture... it looks to be a 1857

It looks like the tail of the seven loops to the right so I can see how you believe it to be an 1856. I do hope that it is for your sake but my personal opinion is it is a 1857.

Look at the top and see the top bar of the seven. Look to the bottom and see what looks to be the bottom of a six or a leg of the seven with corrosion or deformed.

thanks for showing such a detailed picture here.. There was still rendition after 500% magnification.

My advise is determine it for yourself what you want it to be or take it to an expert with a good glass to look at it. I shared only because you asked.

Thanks for sharing with us such a great find!

HH

Sanat
 

Hi guys, thanks for the responses. I enlarged the picture that I posted and I can see why it looks like a seven to you. Looking at the coin itself the bottom potion of the number is almost a complete circle consistent with the bottom half of a six or eight.

When I get home I will try to take some pix that better show what I can see.

Sanat, I have considered consulting with an expert but I live in a rural area and do not know of anyone that would have more expertise than many of you on this forum.

Rick
 

Sometimes doing a pencil rubbing can help you see more detail- Lay a piece of paper over it and lightly rub with a pencil, see what shows up. :thumbsup:
 

Here is another picture with a better camera maybe it will give a different view. Jeffro, I need to try the pencil rubbing but I think it would work better with tracing paper and I do not know if we have any and I forgot to ask my wife. :tard: I also saw somebody use an impression in clay to get better details and I am going to try that but again I have failed to get my act together and have not yet gone through the grandkids toys looking for playdough or clay. Maybe later. Thanks.

Rick
 

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Beautiful Coin! After looking at it closely, it sure does seem to be a 56'. I opened it in paint and colored in where I think I see the date.

I then copied a picture of a 56' and a 57', and after comparing those to your picture, i'm beginning to think yours may be a 57 because of the Eagle's mouth. If you look closely, you can see that the mouth SEEMS to be more open on the 57 (this could just be a bad picture example), however, that seems to match your coin. I really hope you have a 56' though!!
 

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I don't think it is an 1856. The 5 is distinctly different on 1856's from the other years. The curl on the bottom of the five goes well to the left of the upright on the 1856. This is one of the diagnostics to identify 1858 cents altered to 1856. Yours looks more like the 1857-1858 five.
 

Hi guys, thanks to everyone for looking and especially for the help and advice from those that posted. I slipped away from work today and talked to a coin dealer in a neighboring town. His response after examing the coin was, "could be a six or could be an eight." He also suggested that I could send the coin in to a restoration company and request an opinion on a possible restoration.

Since the odds are hugely against a 56, and the consenus of the group is in agreement, I have decided to put the coin with the rest of the things my kids will have to worry about in my estate. Thanks again. HH.

Rick
 

Hi Rick

After seeing your second photo then i could easily see that there was no "7". Funny what photo's can show and how they can mislead.

I was hoping for your sake that it was an 1856.

I studied your second photo for about an hour and could not make up my mind as it did not look like a six nor eight but that was probably due to corrosion and light reflection from the coin.

the "6" in 1856 is really a funny looking shape on its left side. Maybe in person you can make out its shape on your coin.

Groovedymond was kind enough to show the 1856 coin so you can see what i am talking about..

thanks though for sharing the coin and the excitement of discovery

HH

Sanat
 

Heres my 57
 

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Turborick said:
Hi guys, thanks to everyone for looking and especially for the help and advice from those that posted. I slipped away from work today and talked to a coin dealer in a neighboring town. His response after examing the coin was, "could be a six or could be an eight." He also suggested that I could send the coin in to a restoration company and request an opinion on a possible restoration.

Since the odds are hugely against a 56, and the consenus of the group is in agreement, I have decided to put the coin with the rest of the things my kids will have to worry about in my estate. Thanks again. HH.

Rick
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