1856-O Liberty Head Quarter Eagle. Winter-1, the only known dies. MS-62 (NGC). OH.

Full mint luster and boldly struck with vivid color in a blend of light olive and warmer medium gold. The texture is lightly frosted, as opposed to richly so, although we stress that this finish is characteristic of the issue. There are mostly small, singularly inconspicuous blemishes to explain the MS-62 assessment from NGC, and the obverse is particularly smooth during in-hand viewing. A light reverse carbon spot near the tip of the eagle's right wing and faint, arcing graze in the right field on the same side confirm this coin's earlier appearance in our (Stack's) September 1994 sale. Mint State-62 is a high Condition Census grade for this, the rarest New Orleans Mint quarter eagle struck during the 1850s. The 1856-O has a mintage of just 21,100 pieces, and it is the fourth rarest of 14 issues in the entire New Orleans Mint $2.50 series. In high grades (read: AU and Mint State) it is on par with the 1840-O and 1842-O as the second rarest quarter eagle from this Southern coinage facility. Only the 1845-O is clearly rarer at this level.

PCGS# 7780. NGC ID: 25JA.

NGC Census: 4; 0 finer. The PCGS Population is similar at 4/1 (MS-62+ finest at that service).

From our (Stack's) sale of September 1994, lot 1002.

Estimate: $30000