SCARCE PCGS AU55 1851-O HALF EAGLE

The 1851-O half eagle is similar in overall and high grade rarity to the 1846-O. Of the 41,000 made, an estimated 125-150 exist with three dozen or so in the various AU grades and another seven or eight in Uncirculated.

This frosty russet and green-gold example shows a typical strike for the issue with overall softness noted on both sides but nothing out of the ordinary for the issue. The overall eye appeal is very good for the date and grade and there are no deep, detracting marks. A thin vertical hairline in the left obverse field is located in front of the profile.

Only one PCGS AU55 1851-O half eagle has sold at auction since 1999 and it was a non-CAC piece of similar quality to the current offering which brought $5,053 as Heritage 2016 FUN: 6475.

This date is not often seen finer than this and with nearly every higher grade 1851-O off the market in tightly-held collections, it is important for the specialist to give this piece serious consideration.

FROM THE ESSEX COLLECTION