1839-O $2 1/2 MS64 NGC....

Description

Magnificent Choice Mint State 1839-O Quarter Eagle

1839-O $2 1/2 MS64 NGC. Low Date, Close Fraction. Breen-6153, McCloskey-B, R.4. The 1839-O has a mintage of just 17,781 pieces, and is noteworthy as the first New Orleans quarter eagle, as well as the only Classic Head O-mint issue. The facility did not coin half eagles until 1840, by which time the Gobrecht Liberty Head designs had fully replaced the Kneass-designed Classic types. McCloskey-B is the tougher of the two known die pairings for the 1839-O, which are readily distinguished by the spacing of the denomination fraction. Perhaps McCloskey-B is scarcer because the reverse die shattered early, with at least eight different die cracks observed. The dies are rotated 180 degrees from their usual "coin turn" alignment.
Douglas Winter, writing in the second edition of Gold Coins of the New Orleans Mint 1839-1909 (2006) noted that: "The 1839-O quarter eagle is a popular one-year type coin featuring the distinctive Classic Head design on the obverse. It is common in all grades up to and including AU55. It becomes scarce in accurately graded AU58 and it is scarce in the lower Uncirculated grades. It becomes quite rare in MS63 although there are probably more examples known in this grade than any other quarter eagle from this mint. In MS64 and above, the 1839-O is very rare."
This conditionally unsurpassed near-Gem displays dazzling mint frost which is considerably more impressive than that seen on the typical example from this issue. The bright yellow-gold coloration is imbued with greenish accents in the field areas, and an occasional touch of red-orange occurs near the periphery. There are no relevant marks on either side of this splendid Choice Mint State specimen. Census: 5 in 64, 0 finer (5/08).
From The Charleston Collection.(Registry values: P3)

Coin Index Numbers: (NGC ID# 25G7, PCGS# 7701, Greysheet# 8261)

Metal: 89.92% Gold, 10.08% Copper
Weight: 4.18 grams
AGW: 0.13oz
Mintage: 17,781

Note for clients in the European Union: This lot is considered by the European Union to be “investment gold”. We believe that it meets the criteria established in Article 344(1), point (2) of Council Directive 2006/112/EC and thus should be exempt from import VAT regardless of the selling price. Any questions or concerns about VAT should be addressed to your accountant or local tax authority.

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