5574

1851-O $20 AU58 NGC. With a mintage of 315,000 pieces,

Currency:USD Category:Coins & Paper Money / US Coins Start Price:1.00 USD Estimated At:1.00 - 1,000,000.00 USD
1851-O $20 AU58 NGC. With a mintage of 315,000 pieces,
<B>1851-O<$20> AU58 NGC.</B></I> With a mintage of 315,000 pieces, this is the highest mintage double eagle issue from the New Orleans Mint, and to this day it remains the most plentiful, but it would be a mistake to call this a common date. It is a scarce issue compared to Philadelphia Mint double eagles of the same date. Coins grading VF and XF are easy enough to find, and lower quality AU examples appear on the market with some frequency, but any Choice AU or finer grade coin is elusive. Winter and Crum liked this date, and in 2002 they commented: "Since this is the most common New Orleans double eagle, the collector can be more demanding about eye appeal than for other less readily available issues from this Mint. Attractive, original About Uncirculated-55 and About Uncirculated-58 double eagles are extremely good values at current levels." While the numismatic market has changed since that time, such coins still seem to be good values today.<BR> Although the surfaces of this example are noticeably abraded, it is still much finer than most of its peers. Some peripheral weakness can be seen, especially evident among the stars on the obverse and the tops of the lettering on the reverse, and yet the strike is extremely sharp at the centers. As with the surface quality, the strike of this example is consistent with nearly all known examples. This specimen is highly lustrous with slight wear only on the highest design points. It is a brilliant example with lovely lemon-yellow color and frosty luster. Evidence of prooflike surface can be seen close to the devices.<BR><I>From The Wyoming Collection.</B></I>