VERY RARE CHOICE AU 1857-O DOUBLE EAGLE

"Eureka Hoard" Pedigree

The 1857-O is most similar in rarity to the 1858-O amongst the Type One double eagles from New Orleans. Of the 30,000 struck, only 200-250 are known and the vast majority grade lower than About Uncirculated. In properly graded AU55 this date is rare and in Uncirculated, the 1857-O is extremely rare with just five to seven known. The finest of these is the Kaufman/Bass coin graded MS63 by PCGS and now in the Crawford collection.

This fresh-to-the-market example is notable for its originality. It has never been cleaned or lightened and both sides show attractive deep, even lemon-gold color with some darker hues on the high spots. There is very little actual wear but the obverse fields are a bit abraded from a sojourn in a bag. The strike is average for the issue with some weakness on the hair. The overall eye appeal is extremely good for the issue and this piece is notable as one of a small handful of 1857-O double eagles which can be termed "original" without fear of contradiction.

The last AU55 1857-O double eagle was a coin graded by NGC which brought $18,800 as Heritage 6/16: 4845; it was unnatural in appearance and far less choice than the present piece.

This is essentially the finest available quality for the issue and clearly the finest available for less than $25,000.