1856-O $20 XF40 NGC. Variety 1....

Description

1856-O Liberty Double Eagle, XF40
Rare Branch Mint Key
Only 2,250 Pieces Struck

1856-O $20 XF40 NGC. Variety 1. Production of double eagles declined drastically at the New Orleans Mint after the San Francisco Mint opened for business in 1854. Naturally, the miners in the rich California gold fields found it much easier and safer to deposit their bullion at the local facility for coinage, rather than risking long, dangerous shipments to the Mints in New Orleans and Philadelphia. Accordingly, gold deposits dwindled to a trickle at the famous Southern facility for the rest of the decade. Only 2,250 Liberty double eagles were struck at the New Orleans Mint in 1856, the smallest production total of any New Orleans double eagle. Branch mint gold specialist Doug Winter notes:

"The 1856-O is the second rarest Type One double eagle after the 1861 Paquet, and it is the single rarest gold coin struck at the New Orleans Mint. It narrowly eclipses its counterpart the 1854-O double eagle in terms of overall rarity, but it is actually more available in higher grades."

Both Doug Winter and PCGS CoinFacts estimate the surviving population at 30 to 40 examples in all grades, while NGC and PCGS have combined to certify a total of 31 coins, including an unknown number of resubmissions and crossovers (6/25). We have compiled a roster of the 27 specimens we are aware of (and some earlier citations that may or may not represent the coins in the main roster) below.

The present example shows even wear over the high points on each side, giving the coin a well-balanced appearance. The surfaces are remarkably free from the handling marks one would expect from a coin that was in circulation for many years. The only post-striking marks of any note are in the reverse field below the eagle's right (facing) wing. The more obvious pedigree identifiers are two planchet flaws: a small one below star 12 and a larger, irregular-shaped one between star 13 and the date. The subdued orange-gold surfaces show just the slightest trace of charcoal patina around the devices and within the recesses. The 1856-O is listed among the 100 Greatest U.S. Coins by Jeff Garrett and Ron Guth. The pattern of planchet flaws on the lower obverse suggests this example is the Akers plate coin. Census: 1 in 40, 11 finer (6/25).

Roster of 1856-O Liberty Double Eagles
Grades are per the latest auction appearance, unless a more recent certification event is known.
1. SP63 PCGS. Purchased from the New Orleans Mint at the time of issue by Mint Superintendent Charles Bienvenu; passed to Bienvenu's heirs; purchased by Marc Emory of New England Rare Coin Galleries directly from Bienvenu's family in 1979; sold by James Halperin later that year to Larry Demerer for approximately $215,000; sold to Superior for a reported $312,500 in late 1980/early 1981; The Premier Auction Sale (Superior, 1/1995), lot 1645, realized $203,500; The Eagle Collection (Heritage, 1/2002), lot 4147, realized $310,500; Long Beach Signature (Heritage, 6/2004), lot 6372, realized $542,800, Long Beach Signature Auction (Heritage, 5/2009), lot 1989, realized $1,437,500.
2. AU58+ PCGS. Amon Carter Collection (Stack's, 1/1984), lot 847; Public Coin Auction (Stack's, 10/1986), lot 967, realized $33,000; James A. Stack Collection (Stack's, 11/1989), lot 1500; AWA specimen, per Doug Winter.
3. AU58 PCGS. Louis Eliasberg, Sr.; United States Gold Coin Collection (Bowers and Ruddy, 10/1982), lot 889, realized $49,500; Manfra, Tordella & Brookes; Mississippi Collection of Double Eagles, via private treaty on 6/18/1987, per Ron Guth; Long Beach Signature (Heritage, 2/2025), lot 3384 realized $690,000.
4. AU58 NGC. NASC Convention Auction (Paramount, 2/1965), lot 887; William Van Roden Collection (Stack's, 5/1968), lot 916, realized $6,500; James Dines Collection (Stack's, 3/1969), lot 856; Winner F. Delp Collection (Stack's, 11/1972), lot 816; James and Margaret Carter Collection (Stack's, 1/1986), lot 414; ANA Signature (Heritage, 7/1997), lot 7824, realized $80,500; Dallas Signature (Heritage, 10/2008), lot 3018, realized $576,150; Los Angeles Signature (Heritage, 7/2009), lot 1316, realized $460,000.
5. AU55 PCGS. Secure. ANA Convention Auction (Stack's, 8/1971), lot 2424, realized $5250; Duquesne Collection (Heritage, 8/2015), lot 4452; Long Beach Signature (Heritage, 6/2016), lot 4843.
6. AU55 PCGS. Cicero Collection (New Netherlands, 12/1960), lot 10; Jack Klausen; purchased by Harry W. Bass, Jr. on June 19, 1968; Harry W. Bass, Jr. Collection (Bowers and Merena, 10/1999), lot 1711, realized $105,800; New York Signature (Heritage, 7/2002), lot 9472, realized $132,250; San Francisco Signature (Heritage, 7/2005), lot 10399, realized $431,250; Central States Signature (Heritage, 4/2015), lot 5428, realized $387,750.
7. AU53 PCGS. R.L. Miles Collection (Stack's, 10/1968), lot 839; Auction '88 (Akers, 7/1988), lot 975; Auction '90 (David Akers, 8/1990), lot 1951, realized $24,200, Long Beach Signature (Heritage, 2/2001), lot 7091, realized $94,875; Charles G. Wright Collection; Chicago Signature (Heritage, 8/2014), lot 5691, realized $425,937.50. The Winter/Crum plate coin, and the plate coin for Encyclopedia of U.S. Gold Coins by Garrett and Guth; Bruce Sherman Collection, Part ! (Heritage, 1/2025), lot 4362.
8. AU53 PCGS. European holding; New York Sale (NERCA, 3/1977), lot 935, realized $23,000; Baltimore Auction (Bowers and Merena, 3/2007), lot 5597, realized $356,500.
9. AU53 NGC. Baltimore Rarities Night (Stacks Bowers, 11/2019), lot 3188, realized $264,000.
10. AU53, per Garrett and Guth. National Numismatic Collection, Smithsonian Institution. This coin was discovered in the NNC in 1984 with no record of its provenance. It was not listed in the inventory Comparette compiled in the 1912-1914 era, but it may have been in the collection for some time.
11. AU50 NGC. FUN Signature (Heritage, 1/2018), lot 5097, realized $288,000.
12. AU50 PCGS. Dallas Bank Collection (Sotheby's/Stack's, 10/2001), lot 16, realized $92,000; Denver Signature (Heritage, 8/2006), lot 5601, realized $345,000; ANA Signature (Heritage, 8/2019), lot 3925, realized $408,000.
13. AU50 NGC. Charles Kramer Collection (Stack's/Superior, 12/1988), lot 736; Auction '89 (RARCOA, 7/1989), lot 453; Long Beach Signature (Heritage, 1/2004), lot 7247, realized $143,750.
14. AU50 NGC. Richmond Collection (David Lawrence, 7/2004), lot 2252, realized $276,000.
15. XF45 PCGS Secure. Atlanta Signature (Heritage, 4/2006), lot 2137, realized $161,000; Chicago Signature (Heritage, 8/2014), lot 5690, realized $164,500; FUN Signature (Heritage, 1/2016), lot 5639; realized $235,000.
16. XF45+ NGC. James Bullock before 1923; Bullock's heirs; Long Beach Signature (Heritage, 9/2010), lot 5554, realized $345,000.
17. XF45 NGC. Pre-Long Beach Sale (Superior, 5/1999), lot 3766, realized $67,850; FUN Signature (Heritage, 1/2014), lot 5518, realized $318,875.
18. XF45 PCGS. FUN Signature (Heritage, 1/2009), lot 4131, realized $276,000; Los Angeles Signature (Heritage, 7/2009), lot 1315, realized $253,000; Pittsburgh Fall ANA Signature (Heritage, 10/2011), lot 5100, realized $276,000.
19. XF45 PCGS. Public Auction Sale (Stack's, 3/1986), lot 534; King of Siam Sale (Bowers and Merena, 10/1987), lot 2017, realized $23,100; Broadus R. Littlejohn, Jr. Collection (Schuyler Rumsey, 2/2012), lot 1216.
20. XF40 NGC. European collection; ANA Auction Sale (Superior, 8/1975), lot 1601, which realized $37,500; Arrowhead Collection (Sotheby's, 5/1987), lot 352; FUN Signature (Heritage, 1/2011), lot 5249; FUN Signature (Heritage, 1/2018), lot 5096, realized $216,000; the Akers plate coin. The present coin.
21. XF Details PCGS. John J. Pittman, purchased from Ed Bell (11/27/1961); John Jay Pittman Collection (David Akers, 10/1997), lot 1134, realized $35,750; FUN Signature (Heritage, 1/2005), lot 8831, realized $138,000; Central States Signature (Heritage, 4/2014), lot 5795, realized $164,500; ANA Signature (Heritage, 8/2019), lot 3924, realized $168,000; FUN Signature (Heritage, 1/2022), lot 4742, realized $204,000.
22. XF Details PCGS. Possibly Mike Brownlee; S. Gus and Louise Alexander Collection, before 1993; Central States Signature (Heritage, 4/2018), lot 4391, realized $132,000.
23. XF Details ANACS. U.S. Coins Signature (Heritage, 9/2020), lot 3780, realized $114,000.
24. XF. Public Auction Sale (Stack's, 11/1994), lot 1600, realized $35,200.
25. XF Cleaned, per Garrett and Guth. Lilly Collection until 1968; National Numismatic Collection, Smithsonian Institution. XF cleaned, per Garrett and Guth.
26. VF30. D.E.A. and U.S. Marshals Service Sale (Heritage, 12/1988), lot 1377.
27. VF20 PCGS. Alex Shuford Collection (Abe Kosoff, 5/1968), lot 2414; Gilhousen Sale (Superior, 2/1973), lot 860, realized $7,000; ANA Convention Auction (Paramount, 8/1974), lot 973; Central States Auction (RARCOA, 4/1975), lot 105; Eugene Detmer Collection (Stack's, 2/1983), lot 1084; Charmont Sale (Steve Ivy, 8/1983), lot 4387; Auction '85 (Superior, 7/1985), lot 974, realized $21,850; Century Sale (Superior, 2/1992), lot 2944; January-February Auction (Superior, 1/1993), lot 1477, realized $13,750, Dr. John Kardatzke Collection (Goldberg Auctions, 6/2000), lot 1719, realized $21,850; ANA Auction (Stack's Bowers, 8/2011), lot 7753.

Additional Appearances
A. J.H. Townsend; John Nickerson Collection (Thomas Elder, 12/1933), lot 1126. Fine.
B. A specimen in the Col. Green Collection, sold to King Farouk via Stack's in 1943 for $135, called "Unc. Mint luster," Palace Collections of Egypt (Sotheby's, 2/1954), lot 180, purchased by Abe Kosoff for 180 Egyptian pounds.
C. A specimen in the Baltimore Hoard, Public Auction Sale (Perry Fuller, 5/1935), realized $105 to Samuel Glenn, of Boydton, Virginia (thanks to Len Augsburger for this information).
D. J.F. Bell Collection (Stack's, 12/1944), lot 899, realized $320; possibly the coin in number 12 above, per the Eliasberg catalog. Uncirculated, full mint luster.
E. George H. Hall Collection (Stack's, 5/1945), lot 2243. VF.
F. William Cutler Atwater Collection (Mehl, 6/1946), lot 1338, realized $210; possibly number 12 above, per Eliasberg catalog. Strictly Very Fine, free from any nicks or dents.
G. H.R. Lee Collection (Stack's, 10/1947), lot 1777. Strictly Very Fine.
H. Dr. Charles W. Green Collection (B. Max Mehl, 4/1949), lot 808, realized $180; Strictly Very Fine.
I. Adolphe Menjou Collection (Numismatic Gallery, 6/1950), lot 1957, realized $280. Very Fine.
J. Thomas Melish Collection (Abe Kosoff, 4/1956), lot 888. Very Fine.
K. J.F. Bell Collection (RARCOA, 4/1963), lot 849. XF obverse, AU reverse.
L. Public Auction Sale (Stack's, 6/1979), lot 594.
M. Pre-Long Beach Sale (Superior, 5/2001), lot 4170D. AU50 sharpness, Net XF45 due to harsh cleaning on both sides. Described on a tipped-in sheet at the front of the catalog.
N. Two specimens reported as sold at private sale in the 3/1977 New England catalog. One in XF40 with a planchet defect sold in 1976 for $30,000. Another in XF45 sold in 1975 for $65,000.
O. Another specimen referred to in the lot description of the Cicero catalog (number 5 above) "the miserable cleaned coin in one of our Numisma auctions some years ago."
P. AU55 PCGS. A specimen sold by Summit Numismatics to a New England collector for $525,000, per Doug Winter.(Registry values: N10218)
From The Cleveland Lake Collection.

Coin Index Numbers: (NGC ID# 268Z, PCGS# 8918, Greysheet# 9863)

Weight: 33.44 grams

Metal: 90% Gold, 10% Copper

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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