1856-O $5

Description

The Single Finest Certified 1856-O Half Eagle, MS 62 NGC

1856-O $5 MS 62 NGC. The New Orleans Mint produced only 10,000 half eagles in 1856, and this issue is tied with the 1892-O for lowest mintage honors among O-mint half eagles. Writing in 1992, Winter (New Orleans Mint Gold Coins: 1838-1909) stated that only one Mint State 1856-O half eagle was extant. Current NGC and PCGS population data reports six coins in grades from MS 60 through MS 62 (11/00), of which the present example is the single finest certified. The conditionally rare status of this issue is such that Eliasberg had to settle for an XF 40 representative (Bowers & Ruddy, 10/82, lot 480), and Bass included an AU 58 PCGS specimen in his collection (Bowers & Merena, 10/99, lot 1088).
Both sides of this coin display a lightly abraded appearance that is consistent with the grade. We note, however, that there are no sizeable abrasions, a fact that gives this coin above average eye appeal for the MS 62 level of preservation. Modest prooflike tendencies are noted in the fields, and the strike is bold everywhere except over stars 1 and 2 on the obverse and the eagle's neck feathers on the reverse. The color is a uniform orange-gold shade with tinges of olive patina.

Coin Index Numbers: (NGC ID# 25UY, PCGS# 8269, GSID# 9020)

Metal: 90% Gold, 10% Copper
Weight: 8.36 grams
AGW: 0.24188oz
Mintage: 10,000

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.

View Certification Details from NGC