1851-O Liberty Head Double Eagle. Winter-1. AU-58 (NGC). A handsome piece with ample boldness of detail and appreciable luster remaining to both sides. Color is a warm orange-gold that further enhances already strong eye appeal.</p><p>After a modest mintage of 141,000 pieces in 1850, the New Orleans Mint increased double eagle output to 315,000 coins in 1851. Clearly more gold from California reached the Crescent City in the latter year, the 1851-O actually boasting the highest mintage among New Orleans Mint double eagles. Perhaps not surprisingly, this is the most frequently encountered double eagle in numismatic circles. Survivors are scarce in an absolute sense, however, and particularly relative to those of many Philadelphia Mint issues of the era such as the 1851, 1852 and 1853. As with all early Liberty Head double eagle issues, the 1851-O is typically offered in circulated grades, most examples grading EF-40 through low end AU. Mint State survivors are exceedingly rare, most of which have survived purely as a matter of chance. There was no contemporary numismatic interest in these early double eagles, especially those from the New Orleans Mint. Attractive Choice About Uncirculated examples such as that offered here represent a significant find for the advanced collector of Southern gold or Liberty Head double eagles.</p> PCGS# 8905. NGC ID: 268J.
