The 1860-O is numismatically significant as the last eagle made at the New Orleans mint before the outbreak of the Civil War and it is the final No Motto issue as a result. Only 11,100 were made and an estimated 125-150 exist today with the great majority in grades below AU50. Properly graded AU55 to AU58 coins are rare and this date is very rare in Uncirculated with around five or six known.

This fresh to the market example is lightly worn and much less abraded than usual with choice surfaces for the issue. Both sides show nice natural medium orange-gold and are frosty; many 1860-O eagles are semi-prooflike and very abraded which is, of course, a bad combination for eye appeal’s sake.

Only two PCGS AU55 1860-O eagles have sold at auction since July 2009 and the last realized $4,888 as Heritage 7/12: 6497. Recently, a PCGS AU58 without CAC approval brought $8,813 as Heritage 6/15: 4294.

It is extremely hard to locate nice examples of this popular and numismatically significant issue and a slightly finer PCGS/CAC 1860-O would likely sell in excess of double the asking price of this coin if it were to become available.

CAC has approved two in AU55 with three finer (all AU58).