Owner Comments:
The 1894-O is 9th of 16 in rarity of the with motto New Orleans Eagles, very close to the 1888 (10th), with an estimated 150 - 200 known in mint state. It used to be a lot more scarce until a number appeared in the 1990s, probably from Europe.
This coin was in the Pinnacle Collection, and is a very solid coin for the grade with good color, original luster throughout, and just a few small marks on the frosty surfaces. The strike is excellent, even for the issue, with 13 just about perfect stars and good detail in the center. The reverse has a fine die crack circling clockwise along the bottom of the letters from the "M" in America to the dot to the left of "TEN", and then continues intermittently to the first "S" in STATES. This die crack is apparently typical of the issue.
Only four single pieces have been graded higher than this at the two services, making this piece just about the best available 1894-O eagle, and thus arguably a condition census example.
MS63: PCGS 19/1 NGC 14/3.