1850-O $20 MS(PCGS#8903)

August 2021 ANA U.S. Coins Auction

Auctioneer

Stack's Bowers

Lot Number

6189

Grade

AU50

Price

10,500

Lot Description

1850-O Liberty Head Double Eagle. Winter-2. AU-50 (NGC). This is a desirable example of this first year issue that will appeal to both double eagle enthusiasts and New Orleans Mint specialists. Vivid golden-olive surfaces retain ample evidence of a semi-prooflike finish in the fields. Boldly defined over the central design elements with pleasing eye appeal for this conditionally challenging issue. The mintage of the popular 1850-O is 141,000 pieces, considerably lower than the 1,170,261-coin mintage reported for the Philadelphia Mint's circulation strike delivery of the year. This began a trend that would continue throughout the early New Orleans Mint double eagle series of 1850 to 1861. While the vast quantities of gold that flowed east from California provided the bullion for double eagle coinage at both the Philadelphia and New Orleans mints, the majority of this precious metal found its way to the Northeast rather than the Deep South. The 1850-O is one of the more challenging early date New Orleans Mint double eagles to collect. Survivors are rarer than those of the 1851-O and 1852-O issues, and most are well worn in grades such as VF or EF. As with the Philadelphia Mint's issue of 1850, the 1850-O saw extensive use in domestic circulation. Other examples were exported, primarily to London, where they were eventually melted. With its first year status resulting in particularly strong demand among mintmarked gold type collectors and New Orleans Mint enthusiasts, this noteworthy About Uncirculated 1850-O double eagle is sure to see spirited bidding at auction. PCGS# 8903. NGC ID: 268G. Click here for certification details from NGC.