Louisiana Purchase
$2.50 1857-O
View Image Gallery >
Coin Details
| Origin/Country: |
United States |
| Design Description: |
QUARTER EAGLES - CORONET |
| Item Description: |
$2.5 1857 O |
| Full Grade: |
NGC MS 64 |
| Owner: |
JLRiddell |
Owner Comments:
The 1857-O is one of the more common New Orleans Quarter Eagles, as 11th out of 14 in rarity. However, only an estimated 10-15 are known in mint state.
This coin is likely one of two finest known, the other being a coin certified by both PCGS and NGC (1/0 2/0). It is also probably one of the finest New Orleans quarter eagles of any date, given it is a veritable MS64 grading.
The present coin is mostly prooflike (fully on the reverse) with clearn shimmerinig surfaces and has light green-gold color on the obverse and reverse. It is extremely well struck, which also makes it rare among a date than is mostly weakly struck at the central obverse. What a difference in this coin/date from the 1852-O homemade mintmark!
The reverse has a die crack (giving it pedigree) that extends vertically down from the right end of the olive branch, through the stem in the big "D" to the denticles. This is consistent with Winter's observation that "Late date states show cracks on the reverse."