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1879-O $10 MS60+ NGC. Variety 1....
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Sold on Aug 4, 2020 for:
$37,200.00
Bid Source: HA.com/Live bidder
Description
1879-O Ten Dollar Liberty, MS60+
Low-Mintage Branch Mint Key
Condition Census Example
1879-O $10 MS60+ NGC. Variety 1. Only 1,500 Liberty eagles
were struck at the New Orleans Mint in 1879, the second-lowest
production total of the New Orleans series. The coins were released
into commerce and circulated widely for decades before collecting
high denomination branch mint gold became popular in this country
in the late 1930s. Few, if any high-quality examples were saved by
contemporary collectors. Accordingly, series specialists consider
the 1879-O an important key and one of the most difficult Southern
gold issues to locate, especially in high grade. PCGS CoinFacts
estimates the surviving population at 75 to 100 pieces in all
grades and the leading grading services have combined to certify
only four specimens in Mint State, with two MS61 examples the
finest seen (6/20).Surprisingly, the 1879-O was underappreciated until recent times. In his catalog of the Atwater Collection (6/1946), in the section on New Orleans Mint eagles, Fort Worth coin dealer B. Max Mehl described the coin in lot 1536 as:
"1879 Extremely fine with traces of semi-proof surface. Only 1500 minted. Rare. Not in the Bell Collection. Catalogs up to $75.00. Another "sleeper." A much under-rated coin. While it catalogs for only $75.00, collectors who know value it at $200.00 to $250.00."
Of course, prices have skyrocketed in recent years, as collectors have become aware of the elusive nature of the 1879-O. The coin offered here surfaced in Europe in 2016 and has no prior auction appearances that we are aware of. It occupies the third position in Doug Winter's list of Significant Pieces Known. The design elements are sharply detailed for a New Orleans issue, with full radials on the stars and fine detail in Liberty's curls. Many grade-consistent contact marks are evident on both sides. The rich yellow and rose-gold surfaces retain much of their original mint luster, with flashes of prooflike reflectivity in the more sheltered areas. This coin will be a welcome addition to the finest collection of Southern gold. Census: 1 in 60 (1 in 60+), 1 finer (6/20).(Registry values: N7079)
Coin Index Numbers: (NGC ID# 265P, PCGS# 8685, Greysheet# 9489)
Weight: 16.72 grams
Metal: 90% Gold, 10% Copper
Auction Info
2020 August 3 - 9 US Coins Signature Auction #1318 (go to Auction Home page)
Auction Dates
August, 2020
3rd-9th
Monday-Sunday
Bids + Registered Phone Bidders: 9
Lot Tracking Activity: N/A
Page Views: 417
Buyer's Premium per Lot:
20% of the successful bid per lot.
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