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(~all toll free: 866-811-1804 in Longacre's Ledger The Journal ofthe Flying Eagle and Indian Cent Collector'8 Society t: ;; Vol 16.2, Issue #47 June 2006 www.Fly-inClub.org Our missiol1 is to gather and disseminate information related to James Barton Longacre, with emphasis on his work as Chief Engraver ofthe Mintfrom 1844 to1869, with a primmylocus on his Flying Eagle and Indian Cent coinage. 4 by Chris Pi/liod 22 The Fly-In Club Welcomes Our 24 Classified Ads Newest Members 24 Back Issues of Ledger by T!ern Sebby 27 Eagle Eye Rare Coins 28 ANACS 6 New 1883 cent with Clashed Denticles 2 American Numismatic Rarities by Frank Leone 7 Coin Photography Lighting 16 Attend the 2007 ANA Summer Sbootou! Seminar on Flying Eagle and Indian by Mark Goodman cents by Riek Snow for FREE! 15 Lost! ­ The Finest Known 1856 23 Dave's ­ The Coneetor's Friend Snow-l 22 Fly·ln Club Membership by Richard Snow Apphcation 17 Flying Eagle Cents by John Guisinger Copyright 2006, The Flying Eagle and Indian Cent Collectors Society, "The Fly-In Clul{'. All rights reserverd. Articles, opinions and commentS appeatin:g in this journal re:flect the 'Views oftheir authors and may Q1" may not ~ee with those ofthe editor or lhe: society. The society sp~tfi.­ cally reServtts tbe rigbt to edit copy, to require payment in attvam;e, t~ sU$pend advttrtlzill:g privileges, or ttl decline any article, letter to the edi­ tor, advertiaemel1t or oth sllbmittelt nlllterial in part or in whole at its sole discretion, N<> part offuis Journal may be reproduced, in whole or in part. by any means, wiiliout permission from the S()(.'iety, Longacre's Ledger, June 2006 page 3 Preside t's Letter by Chris Pilliod hen it comes to discoveries or My grandpa always used to say, "some­ new finds, there is what we times it's easier to get the horse in the W would like things to be and barn through the back door". That A die chip. This theory has a lot of there is also what it really is. This sub­ might be an appropriate scientific promise, as Indian cent dies notoriously ject seems to really get everyone's dan­ thought process in this case. We all form little chips on the features of the der up. Especially when it comes to agree that any and all analysis of the die, especially on the obverse. The overdate analysis because everybody 1888 Snow-l variety leads to at least 1890's are most prone to exhibit this loves these things. So it is easy to get one unanimous conclusion. That is, it is defect, and 1888 is close to this time caught up in the hype, especially if you definitely something in the die. Numer­ frame. So this fits. In addition, this fea­ are the discoverer. You know, we all ous examples have been discovered and ture is of the approximate proper size want something to be what we want it to they all show the identical features as and shape often seen on chips. And if it be, regardless of what it really is. A $25 shown in the photograph of this VF20 is a chip and formed late in the die's find can be worth $10,000 if it is what example. life, this would explain the variety'S rar­ we really want it to be. And the 188817 ity. Snow-l seems to enjoy the most atten­ Now maybe the next logical step might tion and controversy, with many be what engineers call an Ishakawa or On the other hand, if it is a chip what advanced numismatists questioning its "fishbone", a list of all possible causes. explains the features seen inside the "8" status as a true overdate. Not only is this That won't take long, as it's a coin, not and above and to the left of the "8". variety highly sought after, it is also global warming. Then we can discuss These are not die chips as they show exceptionally rare. 1888 is one of my the merits of each potential suspect and none of the metallurgical fracture fea­ favorite dates and while I have found weigh their attributes accordingly. tures and are not emanating or attached multiples of many interesting to the "8". In addition, die chips are repunched dates as well as great MPD's OK, let's start a laundry list- and if I rarely (if ever) seen on the digits of the for this year, in over 25 years of search­ am missing anything on the list below, date. They are almost always seen on ing I have found just a single G4 exam­ hey, we can always add to the discus­ the feathers, so this would indeed be ple unattributed, lying in a dusty deal­ sIOn: very unusual. But the most persuading er's junkbox in Detroit. So let's talk feature in my mind is the shape and about this variety. 1. It's a repunched date, an 1888/8. topography of the base of the feature. 2. Actually it's a die chip. High magnification visual work I have One thing I have learned as an engineer 3. Or maybe a die crack, or corrosion or done shows no evidence of a fracture is how important (and how difficult) it pitting on the die. surface nor does it show any corrosion is to be objective and impartial. A keen 4. Perhaps the date engraver got sloppy or pitting, but is clearly a mechanical third party scientific analysis with no with the die punch and it's really a perturbation on the die-that is, the bias is always a must. And maybe in mis-placed digit or an upside down localized area of the die was moved or this case I qualify. That's because I am something, 'like the 1858 Half Dime worked into its position. Therefore, I not the discoverer, nor do I currently with an upside-down date. am convinced it is not a die chip. And own one. My col1ection is XF or higher 5. Another guy at the mint went and put for the exact same reason, there is no only (except for cuds), and I have never a die gouge in the die, right at the way it is a die crack. been able to conjure up the funds for a bottom ofthe last "8". high-grade example, and the single low­ 6. It's a polishing mark in the die. So now we are on to a misplaced digit grade example I ever found in a dealer's 7. It's a clash mark. or an upside-down digit. Well, this junk box I sold for $100 years ago (by 8. It's an overdate, 188817, just like might fit since we have confirmed by its the way, for you Michigan members, it we've always said. character that it is a mechanical feature was in your state where I found it). So I added to the die. We already know it is have no personal stake in what this vari­ Now, let's just go down the list. A not an "8", so this means if it is a mis­ ety really is, only a thirst to fully under­ repunched date.