1856 1C Snow-2 Flying Eagle Cent PCGS PR64CAM (PHOTO SEAL/CAC)

Choice Proof (15: 5,5,5). Beautiful deep mirrors. You hardly every find deep mirrors on a 1856 Flying Eagle cent. This is one of the exceptions. It is a glorious cameo. The reason this is such a beauty is that this small group of coins that make up the Snow-2 die pair are die-linked to 1857. They share the same reverse die as the 1857 Proof Flying Eagle cent (Die B). This is also a new die with a shallow date, its first usage. This die is identified by the point at the base of the U in UNITED. Only six example are know of this die pairing. This is the only Cameo.

In searching for the best 1856 Flying Eagle to place in his reference collection, Q. David Bowers choose this coin. After seeing many, many 1856 Flying Eagle both Dave and I agree that is THE one! The coin is featured as the coin pictured in the Attribution Guide. The first I know about this coins history is when it appeared in the Heritage "Dallas" auction 10/06:147. I bought it and resold it to Tom Fore. Later Heritage 1/16:5236; EERC; Q. David Bowers; EERC; Wright Flyer collection.