1843-O Liberty Head Eagle. Winter-2. AU-53 (PCGS).

Among the finest 1843-O eagles that we recall handling, this lovely About Uncirculated example from the Fairmont Collection is destined for an advanced gold cabinet. A vivid example, both sides are drenched in deep olive and warmer medium gold colors. The luster is satiny to softly frosted and the fields are modestly semi-reflective. Sharply struck, and impressively so for an early New Orleans Mint issue. After only the 1847-O, the 1843-O is the most available New Orleans Mint ten from the 1840s. Like many of the early eagle issues, however, very few examples were saved at the time from the mintage of 175,162 pieces. A small group of 1843-O eagles were found in a Louisiana plantation in 1974, but all are impaired. Very few examples have surfaced through repatriations from foreign bank hoards, with the result that this issue is a significant rarity in the finer circulated and all Mint State grades. For both the issue and the assigned grade, the offered coin would be very difficult to improve upon.

PCGS# 8589. NGC ID: 262R.

From the Fairmont Collection - Kronen Set.