1858 Doubled Die Obverse WDDO-005

Description

Documented by the Wexler team and cross-referenced as Snow-4, this doubled die obverse on the 1858 Flying Eagle Cent exhibits strong Class I Clockwise Rotated Hub Doubling visible on the letters USA and the eagle's tail feathers. Class I doubling results from the working hub being rotated between successive impressions, producing a secondary image offset clockwise from the primary design. The 1858 Flying Eagle Cent belongs to one of the shortest-lived series in American coinage, spanning just three years from 1856 through 1858, making any die variety from this design significant. This die is from the Large Letters variety of the 1858 date, distinguished by reverse lettering size. No die markers have been noted on either side. The Flying Eagle design by James B. Longacre, featuring an eagle in flight with an agricultural wreath on the reverse, represented a dramatic departure from the large cent format. A strong doubled die from this brief and historically important series commands serious attention from variety specialists.

Attribution History

• Discovered by Not noted Cross References: Snow-4
• Snow-4; Wexler Variety ID: 1858 1¢ WDDO-005
• Expert attribution by Wexler Team

External References