QUERY Public Deposited
CATALOGS SOUGHT FOR FLYING EAGLE CENT PATTERN RESEARCH
-
R.V. Dewey writes:
Would anyone have a copy of Steigerwalt #62 (May 21-22 1907) and/or Bangs and Merwin, June 17th 1870? Both catalogs I am looking for reference “sets” of Roman numeral 1855 Flying Eagle Cents. One or two sets were for presentation but one set of Roman numeral 1855 Flyers was kept in the Mint. “Six specimens, said to illustrate the various alloys, from copper to nearly pure nickel, in which they were struck. These are supposed to be from the Mint where used as samples. Five have very light marks.” Note: how is one supposed to find “very light marks” when it’s “small” and “scratched into” according to Taxay, an extremely hard metal surface like nickel?
Interestingly enough on June 17th 1870 there were no less than three numismatic auctions that day. One auction had approximately 167 Lots. The next had approximately 226 Lots. The third auction with approximately 600+ Lots is Steigerwalt #62, where an “entire” set of eight 1855 Roman Numeral Flyers is touted by the Bangs and Merwin’s auctioneer in 1870, “as sets very rare; 8 pieces.” Note: only 15 years after minting these sets, they were considered very rare.
Witch Eye™ is a Judd 171A, NCS Proof 1855 Flyer Roman Numeral IIII. Most likely from the “Mint samples.” I remarked earlier that the coin appeared to have been hit with a rainbow due to the colors on the obverse and reverse that can only be seen in certain light. The black spots come to life and turn bright red and green hues on the obverse and reverse surface of the nickel pattern. Roman numeral IIII 1855 Flyer is quite likely and even probably the previously mentioned Mint sample.
On the other hand the Farouk Flyer™ is a Judd 171, 1855 Flyer Roman numeral I and I believe because of the exquisite condition of this PCGS Proof 63 and the Farouk provenance, this pattern was likely a presentation piece. The last time a Roman numeral 1855 Flyer set was offered at auction was over 100 years ago (1907) unless someone knows of a more recent offering. Thank you for your help. Lastly, does anyone have or know of a picture anywhere of the great Anthony C. Paquet?
By "Flyer" RV means "Flying Eagle cent". Can anyone help? -Editor. - 2011-05-08
- 14