SOLD – $5.00 – 1857-O NGC AU53
SOLD – $5.00 – 1857-O NGC AU53
Serial Number 3608946-013
PCGS Lookup Number 8274
The 1857-O is numismatically significant as the last half eagle of the New Motto type made at the New Orleans mint; production of this denomination wasn’t resumed until 1892. A total of 13,000 were struck and this date is similar in rarity to the 1855-O and 1856-O. It tends to be found in VF-EF grades and it is rare in properly graded AU.
This attractive example is a deep amber-gold with very attractive rings of natural coppery-red at the obverse periphery and across much of the reverse. There are a few old ticks scattered about the surfaces that are consistent with the grade and I note a more recent light scrape in the right obverse field.
Only three AU53 examples of this date have sold at auction since 1999 and the last was ex Heritage 1/12: 6366 which brought $3,881 and was clearly inferior in quality and appearance to the current piece.
This date is rarely offered for sale and almost never with nice color and surfaces. A good opportunity for the advanced New Orleans gold coin collector.
