1856 Proof Cent Pattern - J-185

Coin Details

Auction Record

$19,975 PR64BN 03-09-2017 Kagin's

Description

Judd-185 is a rare 1856 Flying Eagle cent pattern struck in copper with a plain edge, one of several die and composition varieties produced during the final year of small cent experimentation before regular production began in 1857. The obverse features the iconic Flying Eagle design by James B. Longacre, with an eagle in flight facing left, "UNITED STATES OF AMERICA" above, and the date 1856 below. The reverse displays the agricultural wreath of corn, wheat, cotton, and tobacco enclosing "ONE CENT." While the famous J-180 copper-nickel striking is the variety widely collected as a regular series coin, the copper J-185 represents a parallel experiment in alternative composition. The copper striking produces a different appearance and patina than the copper-nickel version, with surfaces that tone to rich brown shades rather than the characteristic pale gray of copper-nickel. The 1856 Flying Eagle cent holds a unique position in American numismatics as both a pattern coin and a collected regular series issue, with the copper composition variants like J-185 being appreciated primarily by dedicated pattern specialists rather than type collectors.

Rarity Notes

R.7. Fewer than 10 examples exist.

Cross References

Pollock-216