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.

1841 $10.00 NGC AU50

A nice, fresh deeply toned example with attractive green-gold color that is contrasted by russet hues in the protected areas. This coin has enough "body" to grade AU55 but it is a bit abraded, as is typical for the issue. The 1841 eagle is not a common date. It is mostly seen in VF-EF and it is undervalued in the lower AU grades. In Uncirculated, this date is very rare. With common date Liberty Head eagles in AU now trading for close to $1,000, a genuinely scarce date like the 1841 at such a small premium seems like exceptional value to me.

1888-O $10.00 PCGS MS62 CAC

I generally don't buy this date unless I see a specific coin that is outstanding and this coin is, in a word, outstanding. It is semi-prooflike with splendid rich natural straw-gold color. A few light scuffs in the fields remove this coin from an MS63 grade but it is far nicer than usual for the grade and pretty comparable to some of the 1888-O eagles that I have seen in 63 holders. As a date, the 1888-O is only moderately scarce in MS62 but I think this coin is great value compared to an MS63 at $4500-5500. This is one of six examples approved by CAC in this grade with just two finer.

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.

1854-S $10.00 NGC AU53

Although it isn't a rare coin, I have always liked the 1854-S eagle as it is the first year of issue for the San Francisco mint and it has great Gold Rush connotations. While dozens have been graded AU53 to AU55, few of these have original color and surfaces and this example is very pleasing for the grade with deep orange-gold and rose hues. Although a bit "ticky" from rough handling in commerce, this piece has quite a bit of sharpness and it has the appearance of a coin that grades higher. Even if you don't collect eagles, this is a neat issue to own and one that should be in any collection of branch mint gold.

1853/2 $10.00 NGC AU55

The 1853/2 is one of only two legitimate overdates in the Liberty Head series along with the 1839/8 Head of 1838. It is not really as rare as once claimed in lower grades but it is scarce in properly graded AU55 to AU58 and extremely rare in full Mint State (I have only seen two and none better than MS61). When available in the middle AU grades, this issue tends to be processed and unattractive. The present example is one of the few 1853/2 eagles I have seen with nice color. The peripheries on both the obverse and reverse have acquired a fiery reddish-gold hue that nicely contrasts the natural lighter rose-gold centers. There is a good deal of luster present and the abrasions that are present are commensurate with the grade. A few small obverse rim marks at 9:00 to 10:00 do not detract.

1850 Large Date $10.00 NGC AU58

There are two distinct varieties of 1850 eagle: the Small Date (the rarer of the two) and the Large Date. The date size on the 1850 Large Date is not as mis-spaced as it is on the 1854-O Large Date eagle but it is easy to recognize, especially in comparison to the Small Date 1850 eagle. The 1850 Large Date is underrated in higher grades and it is actually quite scarce in the lower Mint State grades and very rare in MS62 and above. This very frosty slider shows characteristic light green-gold color with choice surfaces and great detail. There are a few small grease stains near star ten on the obverse that are mint-made. Philadelphia No Motto eagles in AU grades offer the collector with sophisticated taste but a limited bidget the opportunity to purchase very interesting coins that contain a half ounce of gold for very affordable sums.

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.