EXTREMELY CHOICE AND VERY RARE 1859-0 DOUBLE EAGLE GRADED AU53 BY PCGS

Housed in an old green label holder and clearly undergraded by today’s standards; I think virtually anyone viewing this coin will call it a solid AU55.

The 1859-O is at least the fourth rarest double eagle from this mint and it closely rivals the 1855-O for status as the rarest collectable double eagle from this mint. Only 9,100 were struck and around 75-100 are known. Of these, fewer than two dozen grade About Uncirculated and I doubt if more than three or four have what could be termed as “positive” eye appeal. The typical 1859-O has been stripped and shows excessive abrasions. Pieces with original color and skin are rare, rare, rare!!

This fantastic coin comes from the same source as the 1861-O offered below and it is likely that they have been kept together for many years. It shows splendid rich yellow and orange-gold hues with darker accents on the relief details. The surfaces are superb for the issue with just a few small, shallow marks seen with the naked eye and these are well-concealed by the depth of the coloration. It has been years since I’ve seen an 1859-O which I’ve liked. This coin? I LOVE it…

No AU53 examples of this date have been auctioned since 2011 and no AU55′s have crossed the block since 2010. Heritage 8/14: 5696, graded AU58 by NGC, sold for $76,375 despite the presence of a large mint-made strikethrough in the left obverse field.

I haven’t seen a nicer 1859-O in over five years and I doubt if more than a small number are this choice, this original and this attractive. If you are a serious collector of New Orleans gold, you should strongly consider purchasing this coin and the 1861-O in PCGS AU53 which I am also offering for sale.

CAC has only approved six for the date. This includes two in AU55 and three finer (two in 58 and one in 58PL).

For more information on this date, click here.