RARE PCGS AU58 1856-O HALF EAGLE

Only 10,000 1856-O half eagles were struck, giving this date the lowest mintage for New Orleans half eagles along with the 1892-O. There are around 90-110 known which makes the 1856-O the fourth rarest New Orleans half eagle in terms of overall rarity and the third rarest in high grades. This is a rare issue in properly graded AU58 and I am aware of exactly six different Uncirculated examples, the finest of which I sold to a New England collector in late 2016.

This lustrous yellow-gold example has alot of remaining "meat" and it exhibits very little actual wear. The strike is sharp save for the first three or four stars and the centers are uncommonly well detailed. The obverse is very choice with no deep or detracting marks; the reverse is a little more abraded but with nothing excessive for the grade.

There have been just two PCGS AU58 1856-O half eagles sold at auction since 1999 and both of these appeared for sale in 2005; one brought $9,775 while the other realized a strong $12,650 (and I believe it is the exact coin offered here).

This piece is, for all intents and purposes, the best available quality for this date and it is among the most important single coins in the Essex Collection.

Ex Heritage 6/05: 7785 where it sold for $12,650. This is the plate coin the second edition of my book "Gold Coins of the New Orleans Mint, 1838-1861."

FROM THE ESSEX COLLECTION