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1879-O $20 MS60 NGC. After a hiatus of 18 years, the New Orleans Mint resumed operations as a coinag

Currency:USD Category:Coins & Paper Money / US Coins Start Price:NA Estimated At:45.00 - 60.00 USD
1879-O $20 MS60 NGC. After a hiatus of 18 years, the New Orleans Mint resumed operations as a coinag
1879-O $20 MS60 NGC. After a hiatus of 18 years, the New Orleans Mint resumed operations as a coinage facility in 1879. The main reasons for this renewed activity was the Morgan Dollar and, more specifically, Uncle Sam's desire to produce as many examples of the new silver coin as possible. Interestingly, a limited mintage of 2,325 Double Eagles also emerged from the New Orleans facility in 1879. Writing in 2002, Doug Winter states that these gold coins may have been produced solely to honor the resumption of coinage activity in the Crescent City. The 1879-O Double Eagle is not as rare as its original mintage might suggest, and 100-110 pieces are believed extant. On the other hand, most survivors grade XF40-AU55, and the '79-O is a major numismatic rarity in Mint State. This issue's status as the only Type Three Double Eagle with an O mintmark further confirms the desirability of the present specimen. This coin exhibits a razor sharp strike in all areas. Deeply set green-gold color yields to more vibrant orange-gold hues at direct angles, but the full prooflike finish is readily evident at all angles. There are remarkably few sizeable distractions for a Double Eagle at the MS60 level of preservation, but pedigree concerns compel us to mention a reeding mark on Liberty's cheek and a scrape in the left obverse field between stars 1 and 2. We are aware of only four Uncirculated 1879-O Double Eagles: 1. Ex: Spink's sale of 12/1995, lot 2571, where it brought $46,200; Anthony Terranova; Larry Hanks; Private collection. MS63 NGC. 2. Ex: Jeff Browning; Dallas Bank Collection (Sotheby's/Stack's, 10/2001), lot 82, where it realized $115,000; Midwestern collection. The plate coin in David Akers' 1982 book United States Gold Coins: An Analysis of Auction Records. MS62 NGC. 3. Ex: Unknown collector(s); Superior's sale of 1/1993, lot 1539, where it realized $19,800; various dealer intermediaries; Bowers and Merena's sale of 8/1996, lot 425, where it traded hands for $17,600; FUN Signature Sale--The Eagle Collection (Heritage, 1/2002), lot 4082, where it realized $27,600. Possibly also Ex: 1979 ANA Sale (New England, 8/1979), lot 465, where it realized $23,000. MS60 NGC. 4. The present example, prior pedigree unknown.From the Ashland City Collection. Important notice: We expect to be auctioning lots at the rate of 200-250 per hour. Sometimes eBay Premier live bid software cannot keep up with that pace, so we strongly recommend that you place a realistic proxy bid now as insurance to avoid disappointment. Also please note that all Heritage/CAA lots purchased through eBay Premier carry a 20% Buyer's Premium. Please make sure you read the Terms and Conditions.