1856 Proof Cent Pattern - J-183

Coin Details

Auction Record

$25,200 PR64 02-25-2021 Heritage Auctions

Description

Cataloged as Judd-183 and part of the extensive 1856 cent pattern family, this variety represents yet another metallic composition tested for the Flying Eagle cent design. The obverse carries the standard Flying Eagle motif with stars and date, while the reverse shows ONE CENT within a wreath, all struck with a plain edge. The 1856 Flying Eagle cent patterns collectively represent one of the most thorough experimental programs in United States Mint history. The Philadelphia Mint produced the basic design across numerous alloy compositions, planchet thicknesses, and die combinations to evaluate every variable before committing to full-scale production. J-183 contributes to this body of evidence as a variant struck in a composition different from the standard copper-nickel, and its relative scarcity reflects the limited production runs typical of these experimental issues. The series as a whole documents the careful, methodical process by which the Mint transitioned from the large copper cent to the revolutionary small cent format.