1857 1C Flying Eagle, CAM PR64+ CAM Certification #58619545, PCGS #82040

1857 1C PR64+CAM PCGS CAC EEPS, PR3 Die Variety. Provenance: Ex Screaming Eagles and Wright. This 1857 Flying Eagle cent, graded PR64+CAM with a CAC endorsement, is a spectacular example of a rare proof issue. A striking coin with deeply mirrored fields and fully frosted devices, it possesses an amazing eye appeal that truly sets it apart. While Mint State 1857 Flying Eagle cents are relatively common, the total mintage for all 1857 Proof varieties is exceptionally low, estimated by numismatic expert Rick Snow to be as few as 50 pieces. This coin is definitively identified as the PR3 die variety by a key diagnostic: a bold diagonal die file mark above the "N" in "UNITED." This specific marker confirms its status as a genuine proof, a crucial distinction given that many mint-state coins are often misattributed due to their proof-like fields. Considering CAC-endorsed examples, this coin is the sole one graded PR64+CAM, with only a handful of examples graded higher (3 PR65CAM, 1 PR66, and 1 PR66CAM).

Ron Guth

The Proof 1857 Flying Eagle Cent is tied with the 1858 Large Letters as the scarcest Proof date of the type.  Yes, that is correct, the Proof 1857 "Flyer" is scarcer (actually much more rare) than the vaunted 1856.  A look at the current (October 2011) PCGS Population Report confirms that PCGS has certified 725 Proof 1856 Flying Eagle Cents, but only 59 of the 1857.  That is less than one tenth of the population of the 1856, yet it sellls for a much lopwer price.  This illustrates that publicity often trumps actual rarity in the coin market, and it may mean that the 1857 has excellent price growth potential. 

The majority of the Proof 1857 Flying Eagle Cents certified by PCGS are brilliant, with little or no cameo contrast.  However, the Cameo designation is a fairly recent phenomenon and there are doubtless some coins among the "brilliants" that would meet the Cameo criteria if they were resubmitted today.  Nonetheless, Cameo Proof 1857 Flying Eagle Cents are very scarce.  To date, no Deep Cameo Proofs have been certified by PCGS.