Louisiana Purchase
$10 1893-O

Owner Comments:

The 1893-O New Orleans eagle is 14th of 16 in rarity of with motto New Orleans eagles, similar in rarity to the 1892-O, with only the 1904-O and 1903-O issues more common. This is due to two large hoards coming on the market, the latter in the early to mid '00 decade. There are a combined 30 graded in MS63 with none higher as of May 2008 (this number stood at 26 in 2006, so the growth of the population has moderated now).

The Louisiana Purchase coin is in a PCGS holder. A little "euro-grime" should be in every collection, and this coin has a moderate amount on the obverse. But underneath is a rich, original luster with nice cartwheel effect totally in tack. It is very nicely toned with rich yellow-gold and light greenish hues that cover slightly reflective, lightly marked surfaces. Most 1893-O eagles have major problems with marks and this piece is quite clean for the issue and choice for the grade. The fact that not a single 1893-O eagle has been graded higher than MS63 by either major service is a testament to the rarity of this issue in higher grade. This example is certainly one of the two or three best 1893-O eagles, according to Doug Winter's observations.

The coin has the Pinnacle Collection pedigree and is plated on Page 188 in the Winter book on New Orleans gold, making it in another way somewhat special among the MS63 1893-O crowd.