UNUSUALLY CHOICE PCGS/CAC 1853-O $20 IN AU50

The 1853-O is the fourth most available New Orleans double eagle. It is scarcer than the 1850-1852 issues but it is nowhere near as scarce as the 1857-O and the 1858-O. While a number of 1853-O double eagles have been graded AU50 by both services, only a small percentage of these are choice with natural color and problem-free surfaces. PCGS and NGC have combined to grade 65 examples in AU50, with just six qualifying for CAC approval.

This example is housed in an old green label holder and it was graded over 20 years ago. By today’s standards, I grade it a strong AU53 with legitimate claims to AU55. There is a ton of luster seen on both sides and the color is a natural light orange gold which is even and consistent. A few small, shallow scuffs are seen in the middle of the left obverse field with the largest placed to the right of the first and the third stars.

There has never been a CAC approved PCGS AU50 example of the 1853-O double eagle sold at auction, and the last two non-CAC AU50s brought $9,225 in October 2021, and $8,100 in March 2021. A CAC approved PCGS AU53 sold for $16,800 in November 2013.

There are not more than a small handful of 1853-O still in old holders, and certainly not many at all which are as nice as the piece.

CAC has approved 6 in this grade with 17 finer.

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