1858/7 Flying Eagle Cent. Snow-1, FS-301. Strong. Large Letters, High Leaves. MS-62 (PCGS).A boldly toned example of this scarce and eagerly sought Flying Eagle cent variety. Both sides are bathed in warm copper-rose patina, the color a bit mottled around the obverse periphery and on the reverse to allow appreciation of lighter golden-tan undertones. Central striking detail is sharp, and the in hand appearance is uncommonly smooth for the assigned grade. We do note the typical (for the variety) softness of detail at the end of the eagles tail and throughout the right half of the wreath. All known 1858/7 cents are weakly defined in these areas due to having been struck from skewed dies. The most significant variety in the brief Flying Eagle series of 1856 to 1858, the 1858/7 Snow-1 has its own listing in the popular Guide Book and is often collected as an integral part of a complete set of this small cent type. Snow Die Stage A, offered here, is the most desirable of the three known die states since it retains the most prominent remnants of the 7 underdigit. Indeed, a loupe reveals a nearly complete upper right corner of the 7 underdigit above and to the right of the second digit 8 in the date. An additional diagnostic of this variety is what appears to be a small die chip in the field above the space between the digits 85 in the date. Some numismatic scholars believe that this die chip is the remnant of the base of an errant 1. If so, the 1858/7 Snow-1 variety could be classified not only as an overdate, but also as a misplaced date. This variety is elusive in all Mint State grades, the present bidding opportunity worthy of serious consideration.
