1844-O Liberty Head Half Eagle. Winter-4. MS-63 (PCGS). Superior Mint State preservation for this conditionally challenging, early date New Orleans Mint gold issue. A handsome coin, both sides are awash in rich golden-orange patina. This is a remarkably smooth-looking half eagle even at the assigned grade level and, were it not for a touch of faint haziness to the surfaces, the graders at PCGS may have returned an even higher Choice rating. The strike is sharp to full throughout the design, and the eye appeal is outstanding in all regards.<p>At 364,600 coins struck, the 1844-O has the highest mintage among Liberty Head half eagles from the New Orleans Mint, including both No Motto and Motto issues. In recent years NGC has certified a small number of examples recovered from the shipwreck of the <em>S.S. New York</em>, yet even so the 1844-O remains rare in the finest Mint State grades. The present example is not from that source and, in solidly graded and attractive PCGS MS-63, it is surpassed by only a few coins in the Condition Census for the issue. For advanced Liberty Head half eagle enthusiasts or Southern gold specialists this is a significant offering.
