1839-O Classic Head Quarter Eagle. McCloskey-2. Wide Fraction, Small Arrows. AU-58 (NGC). CAC.This vividly toned example is awash in a warm blend of honey and orange-gold. Appreciable luster remains, as befits the impressive near-Mint grade from NGC. Sharply defined overall, a significant positive in an early date New Orleans Mint coin, this is certainly a premium quality example of a challenging issue.<p>The 1839-O is a numismatically significant issue with tremendous appeal for advanced gold enthusiasts. It is the first New Orleans Mint quarter eagle, the only one of the Classic Head design type, and the only one that displays the O mintmark on the obverse. The mintage is limited at 17,781 pieces, although its first year status explains an above average rate of survival for a Southern gold issue from the pre-Civil War era. Even so, and as stated above, the 1839-O is scarce in AU and, with so few Mint State examples certified, this upper end AU-58 represents the finest in quality realistically obtainable for most collectors.
