Visit our Popular Forums

AIR-Quarius · 03-24-2010, 11:20 PM

I hope I am posting right...today I was on my bike headed home from work and saw a lump of stuff hanging out of a dumpster to thee side. Rode over and started pulling out old t shirt rags for my cats to sleep in at night. I didn't have a bag, so I reached down and pulled up an old purse and started cramming the shirts into it. When I got home I bedded the cats houses, and before I discarded the purse I felt the bottom- feeling a cardboard floor in there, I put my fingers underneath and pried it up. It was two books full of pennies! Here's three of them, so far I have found out they are called flying eagles and am still looking into the market for them. Pretty neat huh?

flyfshr · 03-24-2010, 11:24 PM

Those are really cool. I've never heard of Flying Eagles. Let us know what more you find out about them. Just how old was this purse anyway?

Brad
FF

AIR-Quarius · 03-24-2010, 11:31 PM

It was not old, just there like a circle bag with a draw string like a beach bag. Had to have belonged to a mother type, and she had hidden the coin slots in the bottom I figure. I will come back to this thread and add what I find out...wish me luck- it's a jungle out there! Oh by the way - what I have found out so far is that these were designed by a painter not a sculptor. They were created to replace a larger copper penny that was around then, and it is I think 15 % nickle and the rest is copper, but they have a silverish finish to them. They were made because copper was getting 'pricie' (?) and this was the alternative. I have youtubed them so far. Bill

Xbob2 · 03-24-2010, 11:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by redhawkerII

It was not old, just there like a circle bag with a draw string like a beach bag. Had to have belonged to a mother type, and she had hidden the coin slots in the bottom I figure. I will come back to this thread and add what I find out...wish me luck- it's a jungle out there! Oh by the way - what I have found out so far is that these were designed by a painter not a sculptor. They were created to replace a larger copper penny that was around then, and it is I think 15 % nickle and the rest is copper, but they have a silverish finish to them. They were made because copper was getting 'pricie' (?) and this was the alternative. I have youtubed them so far. Bill

This goes deeper very cool guys!

bob34787 · 03-25-2010, 04:43 AM

we almost threw out all of my mothers jewelry when she died, my wife was throwing out all of her old clothes and junk from closet, just as she was about to toss an old suitcase she decided to look inside. What she found was everything my father had ever given her. You may be dealing with the same situation.

66Overlander · 03-25-2010, 05:07 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by redhawkerII

I hope I am posting right...today I was on my bike headed home from work and saw a lump of stuff hanging out of a dumpster to thee side. Rode over and started pulling out old t shirt rags for my cats to sleep in at night. I didn't have a bag, so I reached down and pulled up an old purse and started cramming the shirts into it. When I got home I bedded the cats houses, and before I discarded the purse I felt the bottom- feeling a cardboard floor in there, I put my fingers underneath and pried it up. It was two books full of pennies! Here's three of them, so far I have found out they are called flying eagles and am still looking into the market for them. Pretty neat huh?

Nice Find!!!!

Flying Eagle cents were the first "small" cents made in the USA. Before that the cents were larger than a quarter in size. 1000 demonstration Flying Eagle cents were made in 1856 and handed out to Senators or Congressmen to show them the idea. The idea was approved and large cents were last minted in 1957 and Flying Eagle cents were minted in much higher quantities for public use in 1857 and 1858 (both types were made in 1857). In 1859 they were replaced with the more familiar Indian Head cent that was made until 1909. Flying Eagle cents are one of the shortest lived U.S. coin designs of all time. BTW, there are many fake and altered 1956 Flying Eagle cents, so if you have one, get it authenticated before celebrating too much - chances are it is not real.

If you want to get maximum value if you sell them, DO NOT CLEAN THEM!!! Especially do not clean them with anything abrasive or anything that will shine them. Coin collectors want "original" and "naturally worn" coins. Cleaned coins are worth significantly less.

Lily&Me · 03-25-2010, 05:29 AM

Very cool. What a find!

Maggie

AIR-Quarius · 03-25-2010, 06:32 AM

Now I have found out a little more about these types...there is a 'Large Letter' type and a 'small Letter'type. The 'Large letter' ones (if you look closely at the word 'America') - the A and the M will be connected at their bottoms. The 'Small Letter' type upon close up--the A and the M are not connected ...had some thing to do with their making. I was looking at how to clean coins with 8% vinager and salt, but you have said not to clean them, so I won't--but I was tempted.!

ventport · 03-25-2010, 06:54 AM

I'll give you a nickel each for them. You get 500% profit! Ha Ha

Levon · 03-25-2010, 08:00 AM

Nice find!! RED BOOK A Guide Book of United States Coins....the emphasis is on GUIDE....states that they are worth somewhere between $30 and $80 depending on condition.....oh, where have I heard condition mentioned before..ha! Hope this helps....it's always nice and exciting to find forgotten and misplaced stuff.

Best Regards,
Levon

AIR-Quarius · 03-26-2010, 11:49 AM

a penny collector just contacted me from Tucson Az and said to insure them for 300.00. What does he mean?

Ag&Au · 03-26-2010, 12:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by redhawkerII

a penny collector just contacted me from Tucson Az and said to insure them for 300.00. What does he mean?

I guess you don't watch Antiques Roadshow..

Apparently, things should be insured for what it would cost you to buy them, not what you could sell them for (less).

Now, what does that mean?

Ken

PS: Cool Find. I guess I don't go dumpster diving enough.

easyride · 03-26-2010, 01:22 PM

Good find,when I was redoing my GTO 20 years or so ago,I found a gold 2 1/2 peso piece under the edge off the carpet,still have it on a chain.Car came out of New Mexico,but it was still quite of a surprise. Dave

AIR-Quarius · 03-26-2010, 02:02 PM

The potential buyer is in Tucson and they said to mail them over and they will call me and tell me what they will pay. The fellows name was (and still is) Rick Snow, and I just hope they don't pull a fast one ha!

pmclemore · 03-29-2010, 01:19 PM

Holy cow - I'd have a hard time doing that unless I could independently find a lot of information about the buyer.

Kind of like those crooked gold sites - "just mail your old jewelry in and we'll pay you what it's worth". Right.

Pat

VIKING · 03-29-2010, 01:26 PM

Agreed. You should send them away in the mail, When you are ready to give them away without any compensation.
Find a local, or put them on e-bay. Don't put them in the mail until you have cashed the check.

Rich the Viking

silverleeper · 03-29-2010, 02:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by redhawkerII

The potential buyer is in Tucson and they said to mail them over and they will call me and tell me what they will pay. The fellows name was (and still is) Rick Snow, and I just hope they don't pull a fast one ha!

Eagle Eye Rare Coins - The Leader in Quality Flying Eagle and Indian Cents-Rick Snow.

flyfshr · 03-29-2010, 03:01 PM

Yea, that's the guy but take a look at the prices he's wanting on his Flying Eagle page. No wonder he'd like to get them. Hopefully, he'll pay accordingly based on rarity and condition.

Brad
FF

AIR-Quarius · 03-29-2010, 04:08 PM

well, now enters my sister in Guthrie who says' No! don't sell them! ...Good Grief!

kevinb · 03-29-2010, 05:33 PM

go to "ha.com"the coin on the left has issues the one on the rt. maybe a vf+ after being graded by NGC or PCGS may do well at auction, in any event you can trust your coin w/ heritage. And again DONT CLEAN IT.
Kevin