1856 1C Flying Eagle S-5 PR65 Certification #58619543, PCGS #401220

1856 1C PR65 PCGS CAC EEPS, Snow-5 Die Variety. Provenance: Ex Screaming Eagles and Wright. This coin is a truly exceptional example of the rare Snow-5 die variety of the 1856 Flying Eagle cent. With only fourteen known specimens, the Snow-5 is one of the 1856 rare proof varieties, along with Snow-1, Snow-2, Snow-3 (the “Bluebird”), and Snow-4. This specific coin is the third-finest known example of its kind (only two finer: 1) PR66 PCGS CAC 2) attributed as MS and graded MS66 PCGS CAC), with its coveted CAC endorsement affirming its exceptional quality and eye appeal, a distinction that other PR65-graded Snow-5s lack. The Snow-1, Snow-3, and potentially the Snow-5 varieties were part of this original striking for the purpose of influencing Congress and other VIPs to garner support for the Small Cents Act. The Snow-2, Snow-4, and Snow-9 (not one of the rare proofs) varieties are restrikes which were produced later for collectors. The Snow-5 variety occupies a unique and intriguing position within this historical narrative. Unlike the other rare proofs where their "Original" or "Restrike" status is definitively established, the origin of the Snow-5s remains a subject of ongoing numismatic research. There is currently insufficient information to determine with certainty whether they belong to the Original Striking or were later Restrikes (detailed explanation can be found here: https://nnp.wustl.edu/library/book/639559). This ambiguity only adds to their allure and significance. Regardless of their origin, the Snow-5s are prized for their rarity and for their place among the distinguished rare die pair varieties of the 1856 Flying Eagle Cent.