This is the second scarcest New Orleans gold dollar of any type after the 1850-O. While sometimes available in the lowest Uncirculated grades, the 1852-O is scarce in properly graded MS63, rare in MS64 and extremely rare in Gem with just two or three known to me.

This fresh-to-the-market example is very choice with lovely natural lemon-gold and pale oranges hues seen atop frosty, unmolested surfaces. The strike is sharper than normal with bold centers including an uncommonly sharp date. A few small lines on the obverse narrowly preclude a full MS64–and a significantly higher price tag.

No PCGS MS63 has sold at auction since 2009 and the present example is the only MS63+ recorded by either service. The last MS64 to be offered at auction brought $10,925 in Stack’s August 2007 sale.

It has been two years since I’ve offered a comparable 1852-O dollar. If you’ve contemplated beginning a set of dollars from this mint, here is a great coin to begin with.

CAC has graded one in this grade (MS63) with three finer.