The Kneass design. These exist as both originals and restrikes. The restrikes exist with various degrees of reverse die cracks and obverse wear and are believed to have been made in the early 1850s and continuing throughout the 1860s and 1870s as noted below. To our knowledge, there are no examples known struck from an uncracked reverse die. George Eckfeld't journal notes the following in early 1849: "The flying eagle for half dollars cracked and good for nothing." In spite of this fact, the die was used anyhow on May 12, 1852 to strike additional pieces as shown below. It is unclear if the number struck was 15, 25 or 45. Originals should weigh 206 grains and have 143 reeds. As mentioned earlier, none are known struck from hte perfect, ie uncracked state of the reverse die. Restrikes made after 1853 should weigh 192 grains and may have various edge reed counts. According to a listing of reed counts by years supplied by Bill Bugert of the Liberty Seated Collectors Club, those struck with 143-145 reeds were likely struck in the 1840s or early 1850s; those struck with 146 reeds were likely struck in the mid-to-late 1850s while those struck with 152 reeds were likely made in the 1860s. Many pieces exist with weights between these 2 extremes. They need to be examined on a coin by coin basis and the reeds counted to possibly determine when they were struck. There is also one example known in copper J74/P78. This coin, weighing 178.6 grains, is believed to be restrike from the 1870s and is ex Woodside, Brand, Norweb, New Netherlands 41st 9/53, Macy's 6/54, Heritage 2008 ANA - NGC66BN and is illustrated below. Coin images courtesy of Heritage. Images of Eckfeldt journal courtesy of Alan Meghrig.