1856 Cent Pattern - J-181

Coin Details

Auction Record

$299 NGC Genuine 04-21-2023 eBay

Description

Designated Judd-181 (Snow-5b) and rated High R.6, this variety pairs the elusive Pointed U obverse die — the same obverse used to strike Snow-2 and Snow-4 — with the familiar Snow-9 reverse die, identifiable by a tiny die scratch on the left wreath stem. While all 1856 Flying Eagle cents are technically patterns, the vast majority encountered are the copper-nickel J-180 variety. This copper striking stands apart as a genuinely rare alternative composition. Struck in pure copper with a plain edge, J-181 lacks a Pollock number, indicating it was not included in some early pattern references. The copper composition gives surviving examples a distinctly different appearance from the silvery copper-nickel J-180, with warm brown tones replacing the characteristic pale gray of the standard issue. The High R.6 rating indicates that very few specimens are known, making this an important piece for advanced Flying Eagle cent and pattern specialists seeking to document the full range of metallic experiments conducted during this pivotal year in American coinage history.