Natural Toning
1850-O


Obverse
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Reverse
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Coin Details

  

Set Details
Origin/Country: United States
Design Description: SILVER DOLLARS - SEATED LIBERTY, NO MOTTO
Item Description: $1 1850 O
Grade: NGC AU 58
Owner: Hagop
 
Winning Set: Natural Toning
Date Added: 4/4/2021
Research: See NGC's Census Report for this Coin

Owner's Description

The 1850-O is the scarcest of just four New Orleans Mint issues in the Liberty Seated dollar series. This crusty example has a mix of dirty-gold and gray on both sides. Rust lumps are seen on the otherwise smooth surfaces above and right of the eagles head seen on all examples struck from this die. The surfaces and natural patina are an extraordinary example of what an unmolested coin from this era struck at the New Orleans mint should look like. Several decades passed before locating this wonderful example. This better date is usually well struck with occasional slight weakness on the star centrals. Choice AU examples with original surfaces are rare and were missing from many important old-time collections.

Federal legislation dictated that dollars contain slightly more than twice the silver of a half dollar, an odd situation, and as a result the half dollar was the true workhorse of 19th century coinage. Many examples were used for international commerce conducted through the busy port of New Orleans, although others saw domestic circulation in the Mississippi River Valley. Survivors from the mintage of 40,000 pieces are usually well worn, and most have been cleaned or damaged, etc. In original, problem free AU this piece is quite rare.

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