| J-167 Thick Planchet (1855 Copper Four-Leaf LFE) Though never mentioned in any of the Judd book's first 10 editions or in Pollock, this coins existence was confirmed as early as April of 1863, in Bangs, Merwin & Co.'s Woodward sale. Auction lot number 2211 stated: "Flying Eagle Cent, pure copper, on planchet of double thickness, exceedingly rare, very few of this variety struck." The next reference to a thick planchet copper 1855 Flying Eagle Cent was in Bangs, Merwin's April 1877 Jenks sale, in lot number 409, which stated: "1855 Cent. Flying Eagle. Copper. Thick planchet." According to the notations in the auction catalog, this specimen sold for $0.75. Robert Coulton Davis' September 1885 The Coin Collector's Journal also confirmed this coin's existence in Davis-86, wherein it stated, "Occurs upon thick and thin planchets." It is truly impossible to determine a pattern's metallic composition, and consequently, its Judd number, by visual appearance alone. Even the experts can't tell. Identifying a planchet of double thickness is impossible, unless the coin is raw. This coin was identified only after having tested for metallic content and weighing it, at which time the weight was determined to be 1 1/2 times that of a normal Large Flying Eagle the coin pictured is the coin in question. |
J-167 Thick Planchet
Rick Kay Rare Coins
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