Owner Comments:
In high grade (AU and above) the 1845-O is the eighth rarest. It is still a hard coin to locate.
This coin is clearly the finest known example, finer than the recently auctioned SS New York example. (The SS New York NGC MS63 coin sold for an impressive $43,125).
This coin has an impressive pedigree, including Bass and Gilhousen. Harry Bass paid an incredible $2,000 for this in 1973. It is plated in the Akers book on half eagles and the Doug Winter book on page 98. Most recently, it was part of the Pinnacle Collection. (2/0 2/0, one NCG MS63 from SS New York). It is runner Up in Doug Winter' list of 10 favorite New Orleans Coins.
This coin is among the best No Motto New Orleans half eagles of any date that Doug Winter has ever seen. It is wonderfully lustrous with completely original mint bloom, and very boldly detailed. Coloration is a gorgeous rich green-gold.
Having been minted in 1845, it dates from the beginning of the James Polk presidency, one of the most interesting periods in US history, entailing the second largest geography expansion, as part of the manifest destiny, in US history.