Owner Comments:
Rarity 10th of 21 Per Douglas Winter's "Gold Coins Of The New Orleans Mint".
He also states, "While designated as a Small Date, the logotype is actually suggestive of a Medium Date. For years, the Small Date was believed to be the more common of the two 1854-O eagle varieties. We now Know it is a good deal scarcer, especially in high grades... Nearly every known example of this issue is extensively abraded on both sides. Higher grade pieces (AU and above) with choice surfaces are very rare and should command a significant premium."
He also says, "The unheralded 1854-O Small Date is the scarcer of the two varieties for this year. It is most often seen in VF and EF grades and it is scarce in the lower AU range. It becomes very scarce in properly graded AU55 and it is rare in AU58. This date is extremely rare in Uncirculated with just 3 or 4 known to me, none of which grade higher than MS61."
Garret and Guth's "Encyclopedia Of U.S. Gold Coins" echoes the rarity by stating, "...the Small Date remains scarce in About Uncirculated and is represented by only three or four Mint State examples; none of which graded finer than MS-60." [(1) MS61 today, grade-flated? Smithsonian?]
Variety 1(1-A)
Obverse; Die scratches are evident at the ERTY in LIBERTY and a late state die crack can be seen at the rim, across the left side of the 8 in the date heading toward the truncation.
Reverse: The mint mark is placed high and is equidistant from the arrow feather tip to the talons.
With the exception of stars 1,2, and 13, radial lines are evident in the stars. Light high point wear at hair curl at ear, nose, and bun top. Die crack to left side of 8 in the date. Full definition of the eagle's feathers, arrow fletching. Light high point wear at wing tips and olive branch leaves