KNOWING THE EAGLE ON THE REVERSE IS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN 1 & 2 PLEASE INFORM AS TO WHAT WE ARE LOOKING FOR. HAVE FOUND 3 AND 4 TAIL FEATHERS TO THE EAGLES LEFT BUT AM UN-SURE IF THAT IS WHAT DEFINES THE TYPES OR IS THERE SOMETHING ELSE. ANY HELP OR A SITE TO PLUG INTO WOULD BE VERY HELPFUL. THANKS

Sure thing: The Type I Eagle has better defined wing feathers while the Type II Eagle has one side with barely any feather details if at all. The main area is inside the out-stretched wings. It's actually the early reverse with detailed wing feathers.

THANKS, WOULD THERE BE A QUICK VISUAL SUCH AS NUMBER OF LOWER TAIL FEATHERS ON THE LEFT SIDE THAT COULD BE USED? THE RED BOOK AND OTHERS DO NOT MENTION THE TWO TYPES. IN FACT THE ONLY PLACE I HAVE SEEN IT LISTED AND THE WORTH STATED IS THE NUMISMATIC NEWS.

THE TYPE STARTS IN 1956 AND IS SHOWN TO BE ONLY ON PROOF COINS IN 1956 & 1957, THEREAFTER IT SHOWS A VALUE FOR THE REST OF THE COIN RUN FOR BOTH BUSINESS AND PROOF STRIKES. SEEMS TO ME THAT ALTHOUGH IT IS RARE, THERE ARE PLENTY OF COINS AND WE SHOULD BE AWARE ENOUGH TO LOOK FOR IT.

Looks like Ken Potter published an article back in 1999 in CoinWorld regarding the 1959 Franklin reverse varieties and it has some photos which might be of some further help. The third example seems to be a hybrid doubling of both High and Low Relief Reverse Types specific to that year.

http://koinpro.tripod.com/Articles/195950cRevVars.htm

Here's some pictures. I don't know about feather counts, but it's obvious from the two pics which one is Type I and Type II.

THANK YOU ALL, AS IN EVERY CASE THE FOG HAS BEEN LIFTED!!!

I am glad to help.