1856-O Liberty Head Quarter Eagle. Winter-1, the only known dies. AU-50+ (PCGS). CAC.A fully original honey-olive example that retains plenty of frosty mint luster to both sides. Overall detail is uncommonly sharp for a lightly circulated Southern gold coin from the 1850s. The penultimate New Orleans Mint quarter eagle issue, the 1856-O has a mintage of 21,100 coins. It is one of the scarcest issues in this mintmarked gold series, ranking behind only the 1845-O, 1843-O Large Date and 1842-O in absolute rarity. Most of the 150 or so coins extant grade no finer than Choice EF, confirming the particular desirability of this premium AU-50+.From the Maurice Snow Collection. Acquired from Harry J. Forman, November 20, 1980.
