1845-O Liberty Head Quarter Eagle. AU-58 (NGC).Evenly patinated khaki-gold surfaces are lightly struck in the center of the reverse, yet considerably sharper elsewhere. The in hand appearance is uncommonly smooth for a lightly circulated Southern gold coin, and the persistent viewer will be able to discern faint remnants of original satin luster in the protected areas around some of the devices. A curious issue from a historic standpoint, the mintage for the 1845-O was not recorded in the Mint Directors report for 1845. This is because the entire mintage of 4,000 coins was achieved on January 22, 1846. The issue was apparently unknown to collectors until publicized in the December 1894 issue of <em>The Numismatist</em>. Its popularity with specialists has grown ever since, the famous Texas dealer B. Max Mehl doing a particularly good job at promoting this issue and its rarity. Today the 1845-O is widely regarded as the most elusive New Orleans Mint quarter eagle, rarer even than many of the more highly regarded Charlotte and Dahlonega mint issues of its era. Our estimate for the number of survivors is on the order of just 80 to 120 pieces. With Mint State survivors all but unknown, this lovely Choice AU would serve with distinction in the finest Southern gold collection.From the Magnolia Collection.
