VERY CHOICE PCGS/CAC AU55 1851-O DOUBLE EAGLE

Along with its counterpart, the 1852-O, this date is the most available New Orleans double eagle. While a decent number have been graded AU55 by the two services, more often than not these coins are not choice and examples which are fresh and original are actually much harder to locate than generally realized.

This coin was last offered for sale in the late 1980′s and it has never been offered in a third-party slab. It shows lovely natural yellow-gold color with a good deal of semi-prooflike reflectiveness on either side. The strike is sharp with full centers and strong radial lines in the obverse stars while the surfaces lack the deep, obtrusive abrasions that plague this issue. If such a grade existed, this would be an “AU57″ as it is very close to being a 58 in terms of its appearance.

The last two PCGS AU55 examples to sell at auction each realized $11,750 in August 2014. The last AU55 with CAC approval to sell at auction was an NGC coin, designated as a 55+, which realized $12,925 as Heritage 10/14: 5045.

This is an absolutely perfect coin for the type collector who wants to own a really exceptional Type One issue from New Orleans without spending $35,000-45,000 on an Uncirculated piece.

CAC has approved 16 in this grade with eight finer.

For more information on this date, click here.