RARE PCGS/CAC 1899-0 EAGLE

The 1899-O is the scarcest New Orleans eagle made after 1883 and it is the key issue of the "short-set" of 11 issues produced between 1888 and 1906. In properly graded MS63, this is a rare coin and it is very rare above MS63.

I recently purchased a small group of 1899-O eagles which came from a European bank and this specific piece was the finest. The obverse is frosty with attractive rich honey-gold color; the reverse is a deep russet hue, likely from the method by which it was stored. This piece has never been dipped or enhanced and it represents exceptional quality for the grade.

An underwhelming CAC approved PCGS MS63 brought $7,638 as Stacks Bowers 5/15: 71 while a streaky non-CAC PCGS MS63+ sold for $9,400 as Heritage 4/16: 5931.

This date is expensive and nearly impossible to find in grades higher than MS63, making this CAC approved example an important coin for the advanced collector of New Orleans eagles.

CAC has approved 7 in this grade with 5 finer (4 in MS64 and 1 in MS68).