1848-O $10.00 NGC AU55

The 1848-O is one of the hardest New Orleans eagles from the 1840's to locate but it is actually seen from time to time in Uncirculated, unlike dates such as the 1842-O, 1846-O and 1849-O that are nearly impossible in MS60 or better. This flashy, golden-green example has plenty of natural luster remaining and it shows the typical strike for the issue: an obverse that has a slightly sunken appearance and a sharper reverse. There is a lot of "meat" left on this coin and the surfaces show just a few scattered marks that are consistent with the assigned grade. Only a few dozen properly graded AU 1848-O eagles are known and relatively few have the eye appeal and natural appearance that this piece shows.

1848-O $10.00 PCGS AU50

The 1848-O is tied with the 1850-O and the 1854-O Small Date as the eleventh rarest of twenty one No Motto eagles from this mint. I estimate that there are a few hundred examples known but from personal experience, I do not see this date very often in the AU50 to AU55 range; the "sweet spot" for many collectors of this series. The present example is very lustrous with light orange-gold and rose color atop surfaces that, as usual, show a number of scuff marks from handling. The strike has some weakness at the center, especially on the reverse. Overall, a very presentable example of a date that has just a few dozen known in this grade range.