This beautiful coin is superior in all regards to what one might expect to see in a Liberty eagle at the MS-63 grade level, especially for a conditionally challenging issue such as the 1899-O. Radiant satin surfaces display deep orange-khaki color. Fully struck and overall smooth.The final O-Mint eagle of the 19th century, the 1899-O is also the rarest New Orleans Mint ten-dollar gold issue dated after 1883. While some examples have been repatriated in recent decades alongside those of other late date Liberty eagles, the overall population of the 1899-O in numismatic circles has not increased to any great extent. Undoubtedly the limited mintage of 37,047 pieces provided a relatively small pool of survivors. Writing in the 2006 edition of Gold Coins of the New Orleans Mint: 1839-1909, Doug Winter ranks the 1899-O sixth in both overall and high grade rarity among the 16 New Orleans Mint eagles of the Liberty type with Motto. Only the 1879 to 1883 issues are more challenging to locate in today s market. The author accounts for fewer than 200 Mint State survivors, and specifically includes MS-63 examples, as here, in his list of "Significant Pieces Known." The vast majority of Uncirculated coins grade MS-60, MS-61 or, to a lesser extent, MS-62. This condition rarity MS-63 represents an important find for the advanced Liberty eagle collector or New Orleans Mint gold specialist.， Provenance: Ex Heritage s Long Beach Signature Auction of June 2006, lot 3562; Simpson/Hall, as denoted on the PCGS insert. Est. $5000-$10,000
