1858 Flying Eagle Cent. Snow-PR3. Small Letters, Low Leaves (Style of 1858), Type III. Proof-65 (PCGS).The exquisite golden-apricot surfaces of this Gem Proof Flying Eagle cent combine reflective fields with satiny, fully impressed devices. This is a rare coin from both absolute and condition standpoints and is sure to appeal to astute collectors.Although the Small Letters variant of the 1858 Flying Eagle cent is most readily attributable by the separation between the bases of the letters AM in AMERICA, the entire design is actually in lower relief than its 1858 Large Letters counterpart. This modification could have been carried out by Engraver James Barton Longacre or Assistant Engraver Anthony C. Paquet; Rick Snow (The Flying Eagle & Indian Cent Attribution Guide, 3rd Edition, Volume 1: 1856-1877, 2014) favors the latter. The lettering in the legend UNITED STATES OF AMERICA on Small Letters examples matches the style seen on the 1859 James Ross Snowden Mint medal prepared by Paquet.Proof 1858 Small Letters cents are underrated rarities, especially when compared to the more highly publicized Proof 1856 Flying Eagle cents. Whereas restrikes from the 1858 to 1860 era swelled the total number of Proof 1856 small cents produced to approximately 1,500, the Proof 1858 Small Letters has a much lower mintage that Snow estimates at just 120 pieces. Survivors are elusive and market appearances are usually few and far between.Snow has identified four die marriages of the Proof 1858 Small Letters cent. The author believes that Snow-PR3, offered here, was initially issued as part of the Mints 12-piece pattern Proof sets of that year (approximately 75 to 100 sets produced). For this reason, the author has also assigned this variety an alternate attribution of Snow-PT9. Both Snow and Bowers suggest that the Mint may have initially prepared the Small Letters variety as a pattern, placing it into regular issue production alongside its Large Letters counterpart after the modified design was found acceptable.PCGS Population: 8; 4 finer in this category (Proof-66 finest).
