POPULAR LOW MINTAGE 1857-O $10 GRADED AU53 BY PCGS

Only 5,500 of these were made which gives the 1857-O the third lowest mintage of any No Motto eagle from New Orleans. This date is scarce in all grades and it is not often seen finer than AU53 to AU55. This issue remains unknown in Uncirculated, although there are around a half dozen nice AU58s currently accounted for.

This piece has the luster and “body” of a solid AU55 but it has been properly net graded as an AU53 by PCGS due to fairly dense abrasions. These marks are most notable above the eagle’s head on the reverse. Both sides show natural medium russet color with a band of deep reddish-gold at the 6:00-9:00 reverse border. The strike is very sharp and the overall appearance is just fine for the date and grade.

Just three PCGS AU53 1857-O eagles have sold at auction since August 2010, with the most recent coin bringing $4,994 as Heritage 12/2014: 3807.

An affordable example of this scarce No Motto New Orleans eagle.

From the Novato Collection of New Orleans Eagles

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