CONDITIONALLY SCARCE PCGS/CAC AU58 1853-O EAGLE

The 1853-O eagle is common in grades through AU55, but it is scarce in properly graded AU58, and extremely rare in full Uncirculated with just two or three known. The current PCGS population of “27” in AU58 seems vastly inflated by resubmissions and this number is also swelled by low-end, scrubby examples.

This is a choice 1853-O eagle with deep natural green-gold and russet hues seen on both sides. There is a good deal of underlying mint luster and the originality of this coin is further illustrated by clumps of vault dirt in the 85 in the date as well as at the E in STATES. It is highly likely that this coin saw no actual circulation and the rub on the high spots is attributable to having been shipped to an overseas bank.

There are two APRs for CAC approved PCGS AU58 1853-O eagles. The more recent is Heritage 12/2017: 3267 which brought $10,800, while the other is Stack’s Bowers 2016 ANA: 3320 at $11,163.

You’ll likely never have the chance to buy this date in Uncirculated, so this very choice AU58 represents the best available quality for the issue.

CAC has approved 12 in this grade with one finer.

From the Novato Collection of New Orleans Eagles

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