1846-O Liberty Head Half Eagle. AU-58 (PCGS).

1846-O Liberty Head Half Eagle. AU-58 (PCGS).，This is an exceptionally well preserved and original survivor of a scarce and challenging New Orleans Mint issue. Both sides retain nearly complete mint luster. The devices are satiny in texture and the fields display the characteristic semi-reflective to slightly grainy finish of the issue. The strike is sharp to full over most features and there is handsome deep gold patina throughout.<p>The 1846-O is one of the leading rarities among New Orleans Mint Liberty Head half eagles, with survivors even more elusive than those of the lower mintage 1845-O (58,000 vs. 41,000 pieces produced). We believe that no more than 150 examples are extant in all grades, the vast majority of which are at the VF and EF levels. Writing in the 2006 edition of the book <em>Gold Coins of the New Orleans Mint: 1839-1909</em> Doug Winter allows for just 75 to 85 survivors, this estimate leading the author to rank the 1846-O as the fourth rarest of 16 New Orleans Mint Liberty Head half eagle issues. In any event the rarity of this issue is undeniable, especially in the finest circulated and Mint State grades, as here. This is a significant opportunity for gold enthusiasts to acquire a superior quality example of this underrated issue.<p>，From the A.J. Vanderbilt Collection. Earlier ex RARCOAs session of Auction 89, July 1989, lot 416; via Stacks.，