1880-O $10.00 PCGS AU55

Simpson/Hall pedigree.. This date has been a favorite of mine for many years. Only 9,200 were struck and it is the third rarest With Motto eagle from this mint after the very rare 1883-O and the rare 1879-O. When available, the 1880-O eagle is typically seen in the EF40 to AU50 range and nice mid-range to high-range AU's are quite scarce. This very lustrous example would grade AU58 were it not for a few marks on Liberty's neck. It displays considerable mint luster and has nice orange-gold and rose coloration. The last PCGS AU55 example to sell at auction was the Heritage 2010 ANA coin that brought $3,450. Since then, the market for better date Liberty Head eagles has risen appreciably and I think this coin is good value.

1852-O $10.00 NGC AU53

The 1852-O is one of the harder New Orleans eagles from this decade to find in higher grades. When available, it tends to come in the EF40 to AU50 range and is characterized by processed surfaces that are replete with dense abrasions. The present example is one of the nicer 1852-O eagles that I have seen in some time and it is a coin that, in my opinion, could easily have graded AU55 on the "right day." The strike is far above average for the issue with very good detail seen at the centers; the surfaces are very lustrous and quite clean with light green-gold hues. This date is nearly impossible to find choicer than this and I think it is a very good value given its scarcity in all AU grades.

1860-O $10.00 NGC AU55

This is the final New Orleans eagle of the No Motto type and the denomination would remain unproduced at this mint until it was resumed in 1879. I regard the 1860-O as an overlooked scarcity. Only 11,100 were made and of the few hundred that survive, most are in the EF40 to AU50 range. The 1860-O eagle is rare in properly graded AU55 to AU58 and extremely rare in Uncirculated. This example is more original and more lustrous than just about any 1860-O that I have seen in the last few years. It is slightly prooflike with pale orange-gold color that deepens a bit at the obverse border and on the shield. There are a few scattered marks but none are serious or detracting. Only one AU55 has appeared at auction since the summer of 2009; Heritage 1/11: 22442 (encapsulated by NGC) sold for $5,175. The present example is considerably nicer in my opinion and it would make a great addition to an advanced set of Liberty Head eagles.

1882-O $10.00 NGC AU53

This attractive, fresh example shows deep "Euro" coloration with rich green-gold fields contrasted by darker highlights on the relief areas. As is typical for the date, the surfaces show a number of abrasions; on this coin, the majority are on the obverse and they are reasonably well hidden by the depth of the coloration. Only a few hundred examples of this date exist from the original mintage of just 10,820. I have long regarded the 1882-O as an undervalued issue within the New Orleans eagle series.

1857-O $2.50 NGC AU55 CAC

This date is often offered for sale in the AU53 to AU55 range but almost never with deep, original coloration. This example is as fresh an 1857-O quarter eagle as you will find with rich green-gold color and a good deal of dirt tucked-away in the recesses. A few old ticks in the field are nicely concealed by the depth of the coloration. You could literally look for years and not find a nicer circulated 1857-O quarter eagle than this.

Ex Stack's 2/1983: 719, Eugene Detmer collection. The original auction tag accompanies the coin.

1852-O $2.50 NGC AU58 CAC

This completely original 1852-O quarter eagle is well-struck and satiny with attractive medium to deep orange-gold hues atop a green-gold undertone. There is just a slight amount of friction on the high spots of the obverse and a good deal of dirt can be seen in the crevasses of the reverse. Price levels on this date have dropped in recent years due to the fact that a number of auction records for AU58 pieces are low; these tend to be for unoriginal and unappealing examples. A "Gem Slider" example like this is actually quite scarce and a very good value at less than $2,000.

1846-O $5.00 NGC AU55 CAC

I can count on one hand the number of choice, original AU examples of this scarce date that I've seen in the last ten years. This piece is simply outstanding with deep, natural yellow-gold color and rich frosty luster on both sides. There is little actual wear visible; just some scuffs in the fields with the heaviest concentration of these in the upper left obverse. The strike is very bold for the issue and the eye appeal is very high for the date and grade. The 1846-O is not as rare a coin as the 1855-O, 1856-O and 1857-O half eagles but it is seen far less often than the comparably priced 1845-O. In Choice AU it is actually scarcer than the more-heralded 1846-C half eagle despite being priced at thousands of dollars less.

1855-O $1.00 PCGS AU53

The 1855-O is the only Type Two gold dollar from New Orleans and its status as a one-year type makes it very popular with a broad range of collectors. It is nowhere near as scarce as the 1855-C or 1855-D but it so much more affordable than these two issues. This particular example has wonderful eye appeal for the issue with intense rich orange-gold colors seen on the obverse and reverse. There is a small scrape below TAT in STATES that removes this coin from strong consideration at the AU55 level. Choice, attractive and great value at less than $2,000.

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.