VERY RARE PCGS MS61 1846/’5’-O EAGLE

Winter Variety 3.

This is the so-called overdate variety which has been debunked for many years; no such thing as an 1846/5-O $10 exists.

Viewed as a date, the 1846-O is among the rarest New Orleans No Motto eagles to locate in higher grades. It is very rare in Uncirculated with no more than a half dozen known. The two finest are the PCGS/CAC MS64 in the New England Collection (ex Bass/Eliasberg), and the NGC MS63PL owned by the Tyrant Collection; it is also ex Bass/Eliasberg.

This is a very unusual coin. Unlike nearly every 1846-O which is devoid of any luster, this piece is quite reflective with a somewhat “black and white” appearance. The strike is absolutely hammered which is also not typical for the issue. The mirrored fields unfairly amplify the marks that are in the obverse fields and when this coin is viewed in proper lighting conditions, it looks much better than an MS61.

Only two PCGS MS61 1846/5-O eagles have ever sold at auction: this coin (see below), and the Bass IV: 616 coin that brought $48,300 in 11/2000.

Every other Uncirculated example of this date is off the market in a tightly-held collection making this an extremely important opportunity for the advanced collector.

Ex Stack’s Bowers 2018 ANA: 1303, where I purchased it for $40,800 as agent for the 400 Esplanade Collection.

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