RARE AND CHOICE PCGS AU55 1857-O HALF EAGLE

Variety 1.

This issue is numismatically significant as the last of 16 No Motto half eagles produced at the New Orleans mint. There were 13,000 struck with 90-110 known to exist. The typical 1857-O half eagle grades VF-EF and is characterized by poor eye appeal due to scrubbed surfaces.

This is among the more original pieces I have seen in the middle AU grade range. It shows pleasing medium orange-gold centers with pale green-gold hues at the borders. The strike is typical for the issue with some weakness on the curls below LIBERTY and the corresponding reverse. The surfaces are choice and, for the life of me, I can’t understand why CAC didn’t like this coin as much as I do.

Only four PCGS AU55 1857-O half eagles have sold at auction since 1999 and the last APR is all the way back in June 2008 when Bowers and Merena sold an example for $5,290.

There are likely not more than a handful of finer 1857-O half eagles extant and nearly all are off the market in tightly-held collections. An important opportunity for the specialist.

FROM THE BLUE HILL COLLECTION

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