Owner Comments:
While the 1851-O is the most common New Orleans Double Eagle, a mint state example is rare, and this is a very special coin.
Totally original, frosty luster and with no marks of any consequence, it is clearly a condition census example, and likely one of the top 3 or 4 in existance (see below, only two graded higher). The semi-reflective surfaces display incredible sharpness throughout and are richly colored in green-gold and yellow-gold hues. Abrasions are really quite minimal for a coin below the Select level, but a few trivial milling marks on the lower obverse stand in the way of a higher grade. The reverse would probably grade MS64, as it has almost no marks of note under a 5x magnifying glas.
As such, I consider this coin is a highlight of the Louisiana Purchase as it is the New Orleans Double Eagle in the collection with the strongest eye appeal.
The census reports show PCGS 8/1 NGC 15/1, numbers clearly inflated by attempts to upgrade by cracking out and resubmitting. The MS62 census has grown in the last two years, too. Winter estimates only 10 -15 in MS, even though census, as of this writing, has a total of 39 in MS.
This coin was purchased in the Heritage Auction, August 2006, Lot #5576.