RARE 1855-O EAGLE

This date is in the second tier of rarity for the No Motto New Orleans eagle along with the 1852-O, 1856-O and 1857-O. Only 18,000 1855-O eagles were struck and around 100-125 exist with most in the EF40 to AU50 range. Examples with natural color are very rare and I doubt if as many as 10 exist which are unadulterated.

This choice coin was recently found in Europe and it is being offered for sale for the first time to the American market. It shows deep green-gold color with lots of caked-on dirt, especially in the left obverse field. The obverse is very choice and grades closer to AU50 than the reverse does; the "back" is a touch less well detailed and there is a shallow mint-made planchet flake below F in OF which is barely noticeable.

Only two PCGS EF45 1855-O eagles have sold at auction since August 2010 with the most recent of these selling for $4,230 as Stacks Bowers 5/12: 4349.

If you collect this series, you know how hard it is to locate an aesthetially appealing 1855-O eagle.