1852-O $20.00 NGC EF45+ CAC

I have handled at least a dozen EF45 1851-O and 1852-O double eagles (combined) in the past year and I'd have to say that this example may be the most attractive, at least from the standpoint of originality. The obverse and reverse show lovely deep original green-gold color with no lightened areas from prior dippings or cleanings. The surfaces are remarkably choice for a New Orleans double eagle of any date with a near-total lack of marks. My guess is that this coin was recently found overseas but it doesn't have the too dark/too splotchy color that many of the O mints that are found in these sources display. The "+" designation from NGC was certainly the result of this coin's great eye appeal and I think a collector would be hard-pressed to find a nice New Orleans double eagle of any date for less than $5,000.

1840-O $5.00 NGC AU58

Narrow Mill variety. Unlike the 1838-C+D and the 1839-C+D half eagles, the first-year-of-issue 1840-O half eagle remains overlooked and undervalued. It is an issue that is most often seen in VF to EF grades and nice AU's are scarce. This lightly worn yellowish-gold piece is sharply detailed and has much of its original "skin." There are scattered marks seen in the fields with most located in the upper reverse above and behind the head of the eagle. The NGC population figure for this date in AU58 is well-inflated by resubmissions as evidenced by the fact that no AU58's have sold at auction since May 2008. An historically significant issue as the first half eagle from this mint and a pleasing slider example.

1855-O $20.00 NGC EF45 CAC

Pittman Collection Pedigree. The 1855-O is the third rarest New Orleans double eagle, after the 1854-O and the 1856-O. Given that nice examples of either of these dates is a $200,000++ expenditure, for most collectors the 1855-O is the most important double eagle from this mint that they will purchase. The 1855-O is a nearly impossible issue to find with original color and nice surfaces and this coin is far above-average in both regards. It is very well detailed and it has not been scrubbed or dipped as shown by its warm greenish-gold patina. Most amazingly, it shows only a few very light abrasions in the fields. This example is immediately recognizable by a small natural planchet flaw on the obverse rim below the 55 in the date. This actually adds character to the appearance, in my opinion, and in no way detracts. While not identified on the holder by NGC, this is clearly the Pittman coin and it is one of the last major double eagles that he acquired in his storied collecting career. The last EF45 to sell was Heritage 7/11: 4993 (graded by PCGS) that realized $34,500. That coin had numerous abrasions in the fields and it was not accorded a sticker by CAC. In fact, only three 1855-O double eagles in EF45 have been approved by CAC and none above this. A very important coin for the Type One collector and a piece that combines beauty, rarity and numismatic history in one neat package.

Ex Pittman: 1131, Merkin 10/66: 374

1851-O $20.00 PCGS EF40 CAC

If you want to buy a nice quality New Orleans double eagle and you have less than $5,000 to spend you basically have two choices: the 1851-O and the 1852-O. Of the two dates, the 1851-O is a bit harder to find. This very attractive example shows natural green-gold color with areas of reddish toning at the borders. There is some luster present and the surfaces are nice for the date and grade. A shallow mint-made planchet flake between the two final stars on the obverse does not detract and the reverse is clean, choice and lovely. You won't find many nicer EF examples of this date than the present coin.

1855-O $10.00 PCGS AU50

Despite a mintage of just 18,000 coins, the 1855-O eagle is an overlooked rarity that is scarce in all grades and genuinely rare in AU and better. This example has delightful natural green-gold color and great luster with nice surfaces. There are just a few small marks behind the neck and this is a very high end coin for the grade with the "body" of an AU53 to AU55. The stars are flat at the centers as on all known examples. I have not seen an original 1855-O eagle of this calibre in at least half a year, if not more. The last PCGS AU50 to sell at auction was Heritage 1/09: 5534 (which I purchased) and, before this, none was sold since the ANR 1/05 auction. The PCGS population figures for this date are very inflated by resubmissions and I'd venture a guess that this is one of the nicest pieces known in a PCGS AU50 holder!

1850-O 50C PCGS MS64+ CAC

Fully struck and very lustrous with attractive totally original russet pastel color on the obverse and, a bit less extensively, on the reverse. A few very faint scuffs in the fields narrowly remove this piece from the Gem level. I like this coin considerably more than Osburn: 7038 (at $6,613) which, while graded MS65 by NGC, had no character due to a recent dipping. Only four examples have been graded MS64+ by PCGS and, in my opinion, the entire population for Mint State 1850-O half dollars at PCGS is grossly inflated. Coins like this are wonderful value and this piece is really not all that far off, from the standpoint of appearance, from the PCGS MS65 that sold for $14,950 in the Bowers and Merena 11/10 auction.

1857-O $5.00 NGC AU53

A beautiful, original coin with deep natural green-gold and russet hues on the obverse and the reverse. This date is rare in all grades and it is extremely hard to find with natural color as most have been dipped and/or processed. This piece is well-detailed, has very clean surfaces and shows far above-average eye appeal for the date and grade. A total of 13,000 were struck of which around 100 or so are known today. Most are seen in the VF-EF grade range and AU 1857-O half eagles are quite rare with two dozen or so accounted for. How hard is it to find an example in AU53? Well, since 1999 there have been just two sold at auction: Heritage 1/06: 5219 (graded NGC AU53 by NGC that sold for $4,485) and Bass II: 1100 (graded AU53 by PCGS that sold for $3,680 all the way back in 1999). If you collect New Orleans half eagles by date, you know the importance of this offering. If you don't but like cool coins priced at under $5,000, this piece should also generate some interest.

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.

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.